Baduanjin Combined with Computerized Cognitive Remediation Therapy for the Treatment of Schizophrenia : A 8-week randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by complex clinical presentations and marked impairments in social and occupational functioning. While antipsychotic medications are effective in managing positive symptoms, their efficacy in addressing negative symptoms, cognitive deficits, and overall improvements in social functioning and quality of life remains substantially limited.This study aims to evaluate the effects of Baduanjin combined with Computerized Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CCRT) on patients with schizophrenia, thereby contributing to the evidence base for its clinical management. METHODS A total of 120 hospitalized patients with schizophrenia (aged 29–64 years; 66.67% male) were recruited and randomly allocated to either an intervention group (n = 60) or a control group (n = 60). Participants in the intervention group received a combined 85-minute session (45 minutes of CCRT plus 40 minutes of Baduanjin training) five times per week, whereas the control group received CCRT alone for the same duration. Assessments of psychiatric symptoms, cognitive function, social functioning, and quality of life were conducted at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups for all outcome measures (P > 0.05). Following the 8-week intervention, within-group analyses showed significant improvements from baseline in NCSE, SSPI, and SQLS scores for both groups (all P < 0.05). In contrast, a statistically significant reduction in PANSS total scores was only observed in the intervention group (P < 0.05). Moreover, intergroup analysis revealed that the intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvements across all outcome measures (NCSE, SSPI, SQLS, and PANSS) compared to the control group post-intervention (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Patients with schizophrenia showed significantly better overall efficacy with an 8-week combined treatment of Baduanjin and CCRT compared to CCRT alone, particularly in improving psychiatric symptoms (especially negative symptoms), enhancing cognitive function, restoring social functioning, and improving quality of life.