Effects of Tai-chi on functioning, symptoms, and movement coordination on patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: Patients with schizophrenia require long-term care and management of psychotic symptoms via anti-psychotic medication, which may induce side effects and reduce patients' functioning. Tai-chi is an Eastern mind-body health exercise that emphasizes motor coordination. The present study aimed to examine the effects of Tai-chi intervention on the cognitive and motor deficits of patients with schizophrenia. Methods: A 3-arm randomized control trial was conducted to recruit 151 residential patients with schizophrenia (mean age = 54.0 years, SD = 8.5) who were randomized into Tai-chi, exercise, or waitlist control groups. Both the Tai-chi and exercise groups were given 12 weeks of specific intervention on top of the standard medication and care. All participants were assessed in terms of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Barthel’s Activities of Daily Living Index, and Neurological Evaluation Scale at baseline, at 12 weeks (post-intervention) and at 24 weeks (maintenance). Latent growth modeling was used to assess the intervention effects on daily living function, symptom management, and movement coordination. Results: Participants in the three groups did not significantly differ on demographics and baseline status of the outcome variables. Both the Tai-chi and exercise groups showed significant improvement (p < .05) in daily living function over the control group over time. Compared to the control group, participants in the Tai-chi group revealed significant decreases in motor deficits (p < .01) in terms of balancing, motor coordination and sequencing. No intervention effects were found (p > .05) for Tai-chi on management of the psychotic symptoms. Discussions: These results suggest that Tai-chi psychotherapy may have some therapeutic effects in reducing the motor deficits and improving the daily functioning of residential patients with schizophrenia. Acknowledgement: This study was supported by the General Research Fund, Research Grants Council (GRF/HKU744912). The authors would like to acknowledge the staff of the Providence Garden of Rehab, Hong Kong, for their provision of support and coordination for the study.