The participants in the study will receive psychiatric treatment at the UCLA Aftercare Research Program. All participants in this 12-month RCT will receive cognitive training. Half of the patients will also be randomly assigned to the aerobic exercise and strength training condition, and the other half will be randomly assigned to the Healthy Living Group condition. The primary outcome measures are improvement in cognition and level of engagement in the in-group and at-home exercise sessions. Increases in the level of the patient's serum brain-derived neurotropic factor (specifically Mature BDNF) which causes greater brain neuroplasticity and is indicator of engagement in aerobic exercise, will be measured early in the treatment phase in order to confirm engagement of this target. In order to demonstrate the feasibility and portability of this intervention outside of academic research programs, the interventions will be provided via videoconferencing. The proposed study will incorporate additional methods to maximize participation in the exercise condition, including the use of the Moderated Online Social Therapy (MOST) platform to enhance motivation for treatment based on Self-Determination Theory principles, and a "bridging" group to help the participants generalize gains to everyday functioning. In addition, the exercise group participants will receive personally tailored text reminders to exercise.
Age range
18 Years – 45 Years
Sex
ALL
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Change in Serum Mature BDNF
Timeframe: Outcome is change from baseline to 2 weeks.
Change in Serum Mature BDNF
Timeframe: Outcome is change from baseline to 3 months.
Change in Overall Composite T-score from the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB)
Timeframe: Outcome is change from baseline to 3 months.
Change in Overall Composite T-score from the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB)
Timeframe: Outcome is change from baseline to 6 months.
Change in Intrinsic Motivation Inventory for Schizophrenia Research (IMI-SR)
Timeframe: Outcome is change from baseline to 3 months.
Change in Intrinsic Motivation Inventory for Schizophrenia Research (IMI-SR)
Timeframe: Outcome is change from baseline to 6 months.
Attendance at Exercise Sessions for First Three Months
Timeframe: First Three Months After Baseline
Attendance at Exercise Sessions for First Six Months
Timeframe: First Six Months After Baseline