# Immediate Psychological Responses to Aerobic and Resistance Exercise in People With Psychotic Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Psychiatric Rehabilitation

## TL;DR

This study finds that both aerobic and resistance exercise improve mood and reduce distress in people with psychotic disorders, though they differ in their effects on fatigue.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is comparing immediate psychological effects of aerobic and resistance exercise in individuals with psychotic disorders.

## Key findings

- Both exercise types increased positive wellbeing and reduced psychological distress significantly.
- Resistance training increased fatigue, while aerobic exercise decreased it.
- Higher baseline controlled motivation and depressed mood were linked to greater fatigue after exercise.

## Abstract

People with psychotic disorders have limited strategies to manage acute psychological distress and emotions. Exercise has physical and mental health benefits but immediate psychological effects in this population remain underexplored. This study compared immediate psychological responses to resistance training (RT) and aerobic exercise among individuals with psychotic disorders in psychiatric rehabilitation and examined whether clinical characteristics were associated with these responses.

Fifty-three participants were randomized to RT or aerobic exercise. Immediate psychological responses—psychological distress, positive wellbeing, and fatigue—were assessed using the Subjective Exercise Experiences Scale at 2 timepoints within an 8-week trial (week 3: n = 52; week 8: n = 48), pre- and 10 min post-exercise. Baseline assessments included clinical and motivational variables. Primary analyses used linear mixed models for repeated measures.

Both exercise types led to large increases in positive wellbeing (RT: Hedges’ g = 1.24; aerobic: g = 1.31) and reductions in psychological distress (RT: g = –0.91; aerobic: g = –1.05). A significant group-by-time interaction was observed for fatigue, which increased in RT (g = 0.43) and decreased in aerobic (g = –0.58). Higher fatigue was associated with greater controlled motivation (β = 1.72) and depressed mood (β = 0.80) at baseline.

RT and aerobic exercise improved positive wellbeing and reduced psychological distress whereas fatigue differed by exercise type. Findings suggest exercise may be a promising intervention for modulating immediate psychological responses in people with psychotic disorders in psychiatric rehabilitation.