Virtual Group-based Walking Intervention for Persons with Schizophrenia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Persons with schizophrenia have reduced cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), a predictor of all-cause mortality. Exercise is effective for improving CRF; however, motivational challenges affecting those with schizophrenia impact exercise engagement and maintenance. Virtual Physical Activity Can Enhance Life (Virtual PACE-Life), a multicomponent walking intervention guided by self-determination theory (SDT), was developed to target CRF in this population while addressing motivational difficulties. Virtual PACE-Life includes live video-delivered group walking sessions, Fitbit activity tracking, recommendations for home-based walking sessions, goal setting, and if-then plans. The present study was a 16-week pilot randomized controlled trial that evaluated the impact of Virtual PACE-Life against Fitbit Alone in a sample of 37 participants with schizophrenia on intermediate targets (competence, autonomy, and relatedness satisfaction, autonomous motivation), proximal outcomes (Fitbit-measured steps/day and minutes spent walking), and the primary outcome (CRF using the 6-minute walk test). Blinded research staff completed assessments at baseline, midpoint, posttest, and one-month follow-up. Analysis of covariance and hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to evaluate group differences at each timepoint controlling for baseline. Attendance at Virtual PACE-Life groups was 58% and Fitbit adherence was above 70% in both conditions. Intent-to-treat results indicated greater competence and autonomy satisfaction for Virtual PACE-Life but not in relatedness satisfaction or autonomous motivation. There were no group differences in proximal or primary outcomes during the intervention period. Completer analyses showed improvements in steps/day and autonomous motivation favoring Virtual PACE-Life. Future research is needed to maximize the exercise and CRF benefits of virtual group-based exercise for persons with schizophrenia.