Completed Psychology & Behaviour Mental Health

Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Body Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia. A multi-centre randomised controlled trial

Funder NIHR (part of DHSC)
Recipient organisation Queen Mary University of London
Funding £1.4M
Period May 2011 — May 2015

In plain English

AI plain-English summary

Two hundred and forty-eight people with schizophrenia will be randomly assigned to either body psychotherapy or Pilates classes to see which better treats the debilitating negative symptoms—apathy, social withdrawal, lack of motivation—that standard antipsychotic drugs largely fail to address. These negative symptoms are a major reason patients struggle to hold jobs, maintain relationships, or live independently. Existing treatments focus on positive symptoms like hallucinations, leaving a gap in care for the symptoms that most affect daily functioning. This trial tests whether body psychotherapy—a group approach using movement, breath, and body awareness—can fill that gap more effectively than a non-specific physical activity like Pilates. If the therapy proves effective and cost-effective, the NHS could adopt a relatively inexpensive group treatment for a patient group that currently has few options. The trial includes a six-month follow-up to check whether benefits last, and a full cost-effectiveness analysis. Success would mean a practical, scalable tool for improving quality of life and social functioning in people with schizophrenia, without requiring expensive new drugs or technology.

View original technical description
The overall objective of the study is to improve the treatment of negative symptoms of patients with schizophrenia through testing a novel treatment method. The trial tests whether body psychotherapy (BPT) is effective and cost effective in the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia as compared to a non-specific intervention of physical activity. In a randomised controlled trial, a total of 248 patients in working age, with an established diagnosis of schizophrenia and marked negative symptoms will be randomly allocated to participating in either BPT or pilates groups. Both interventions will be delivered in groups of 8 patients with 20 sessions over a period of 10 weeks. Pilates groups will provide physical activity and non-specific attention in groups, but not the specific components of BPT. The primary outcome are negative symptoms as measured on PANSS. Secondary outcomes are general psychopathology, quality of life, social functioning, treatment satisfaction and the objective social situation of the patients. We will also test whether any effects of the intervention hold true over a six month follow up period, and assess the cost-effectiveness of BPT. If successful the trial will provide evidence for the effectiveness of a new and relatively inexpensive group treatment for a very challenging group of patients, which can be widely implemented in the NHS.

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