Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of physical exercise on simple inflammation markers, systemic immune inflammation index and systemic immune response index in patients with schizophrenia.
Methods: A total of 35 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia participated in the study (exercise group: n = 17, control group: n = 18). Participants continued their routine psychiatric treatments. The exercise group underwent a 12-week supervised exercise program, while the control group did not receive any additional intervention. Simple inflammatory markers, systemic immune inflammatory index (SII) and systemic immune response index (SIRI) and positive and negative syndrome scale (PANNS) scores were assessed at baseline, after 12 weeks, and after a 12-week follow-up without exercise following the completion of the exercise.
Results: In the exercise group, inflammatory markers, SII and SIRI values significantly decreased during the first 12 weeks, whereas the control group showed stability or increases. Similarly, all of the PANSS subgroup scores decreased significantly in the exercise group, but increased in the control group. During the follow-up, these improvements diminished, and group differences were no longer significant. Over the total 24-week period, control group exhibited significant increases in both inflammatory markers and PANSS scores, while the exercise group remained stable.
Conclusions: A 12-week exercise program reduced systemic inflammation and improved clinical symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. However, these benefits diminished after discontinuation. Regular physical activity may serve as a practical adjunctive strategy in schizophrenia management, though long-term and larger studies are needed to confirm sustainability.
Keywords: Physical exercise; Positive and negative syndrome scale; Schizophrenia; Simple inflammatory markers.
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