The effects of dance intervention on clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits in hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial

Background Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that imposes significant social burdens. Traditional treatmens, however, have limited effectiveness in addressing negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. Recent studies have indicated interventions promoting sensorimotor integration may offer po...

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Main Authors: Gujing Li, Hui He, Kexin Gao, Yuanyuan Yu, Yayun Liu, Tianhuan Li, Ping Xi, Frank Pollick, Jing Lu, Lixue Yin, Dezhong Yao, Mingjun Duan, Li Mi, Cheng Luo
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Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2025-08-01
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Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/19840.pdf
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author Gujing Li
Hui He
Kexin Gao
Yuanyuan Yu
Yayun Liu
Tianhuan Li
Ping Xi
Frank Pollick
Jing Lu
Lixue Yin
Dezhong Yao
Mingjun Duan
Li Mi
Cheng Luo
author_facet Gujing Li
Hui He
Kexin Gao
Yuanyuan Yu
Yayun Liu
Tianhuan Li
Ping Xi
Frank Pollick
Jing Lu
Lixue Yin
Dezhong Yao
Mingjun Duan
Li Mi
Cheng Luo
author_sort Gujing Li
collection DOAJ
description Background Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that imposes significant social burdens. Traditional treatmens, however, have limited effectiveness in addressing negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. Recent studies have indicated interventions promoting sensorimotor integration may offer potential benefits for schizophrenia treatment. The current study aimes to investigate the effects of dance training as an intervention for patients with chronic schizophrenia. Methods This study recruited 34 individuals with schizophrenia, who were randomly allocated to either a dance intervention group (n = 18) or an aerobic exercise group (n = 14) for a 3-month program including fifty-minute sessions three times per week. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Nurses’ Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOISE). Cognitive function was evaluated using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Meanwhile, physiological indicators were also collected to explore the underlying physiological effects of the dance intervention. All measurements were taken before and after the interventions. Results The PANSS total scores (P < 0.01**), PANSS negative scores (p < 0.001**), NOISE score (p < 0.001**), MCCB cognitive scores, and physiological indicators were significantly changed after the intervention in both groups compared with baseline. Post-hoc analysis revealed notable improvements in the specific cognitive subscales, including the Continuous Operation Test-identical pairs (CPT-IP, p = 0.026*), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R, p = 0.019*) and the physiological indicators Cystatin C (CYS-C, p = 0.037*) in the dance intervention group. Additionally, significant correlation were found between PANSS positive score and Total Bilirubin (TBIL) (r = 0.449, p = 0.028*), as well as between CPT-IP and Cystatin C (CYS-C) (r = 0.501, p = 0.008**) were found in both groups. Conclusion While both interventions resulted in improvements in clinical symptoms and cognitive function, the dance intervention specifically enhanced attention and verbal memory. Dance and aerobic exercise induced different changes in physiological indicators, which might be the physiological basis for improvements in clinical symptoms and cognitive function.
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spelling doaj-art-d85512907c714c2eb697d9630bbeab0b2025-08-23T15:05:13ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592025-08-0113e1984010.7717/peerj.19840The effects of dance intervention on clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits in hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trialGujing Li0Hui He1Kexin Gao2Yuanyuan Yu3Yayun Liu4Tianhuan Li5Ping Xi6Frank Pollick7Jing Lu8Lixue Yin9Dezhong Yao10Mingjun Duan11Li Mi12Cheng Luo13The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Chengdu Mental Health Centre, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, ChinaSchool of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United KingdomThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaSichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, ChinaThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Chengdu Mental Health Centre, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, ChinaThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Chengdu Mental Health Centre, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, ChinaThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaBackground Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that imposes significant social burdens. Traditional treatmens, however, have limited effectiveness in addressing negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. Recent studies have indicated interventions promoting sensorimotor integration may offer potential benefits for schizophrenia treatment. The current study aimes to investigate the effects of dance training as an intervention for patients with chronic schizophrenia. Methods This study recruited 34 individuals with schizophrenia, who were randomly allocated to either a dance intervention group (n = 18) or an aerobic exercise group (n = 14) for a 3-month program including fifty-minute sessions three times per week. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Nurses’ Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOISE). Cognitive function was evaluated using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Meanwhile, physiological indicators were also collected to explore the underlying physiological effects of the dance intervention. All measurements were taken before and after the interventions. Results The PANSS total scores (P < 0.01**), PANSS negative scores (p < 0.001**), NOISE score (p < 0.001**), MCCB cognitive scores, and physiological indicators were significantly changed after the intervention in both groups compared with baseline. Post-hoc analysis revealed notable improvements in the specific cognitive subscales, including the Continuous Operation Test-identical pairs (CPT-IP, p = 0.026*), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R, p = 0.019*) and the physiological indicators Cystatin C (CYS-C, p = 0.037*) in the dance intervention group. Additionally, significant correlation were found between PANSS positive score and Total Bilirubin (TBIL) (r = 0.449, p = 0.028*), as well as between CPT-IP and Cystatin C (CYS-C) (r = 0.501, p = 0.008**) were found in both groups. Conclusion While both interventions resulted in improvements in clinical symptoms and cognitive function, the dance intervention specifically enhanced attention and verbal memory. Dance and aerobic exercise induced different changes in physiological indicators, which might be the physiological basis for improvements in clinical symptoms and cognitive function.https://peerj.com/articles/19840.pdfDance interventionAerobic exerciseSchizophreniaClinical symptomsCognitive deficitsPhysiological indicator
spellingShingle Gujing Li
Hui He
Kexin Gao
Yuanyuan Yu
Yayun Liu
Tianhuan Li
Ping Xi
Frank Pollick
Jing Lu
Lixue Yin
Dezhong Yao
Mingjun Duan
Li Mi
Cheng Luo
The effects of dance intervention on clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits in hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial
PeerJ
Dance intervention
Aerobic exercise
Schizophrenia
Clinical symptoms
Cognitive deficits
Physiological indicator
title The effects of dance intervention on clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits in hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial
title_full The effects of dance intervention on clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits in hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr The effects of dance intervention on clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits in hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed The effects of dance intervention on clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits in hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial
title_short The effects of dance intervention on clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits in hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial
title_sort effects of dance intervention on clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits in hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia a randomized controlled trial
topic Dance intervention
Aerobic exercise
Schizophrenia
Clinical symptoms
Cognitive deficits
Physiological indicator
url https://peerj.com/articles/19840.pdf
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