The study is conducted at Mental Health Center Glostrup, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry, and Aalborg University Hospital Psychiatry. It builds on the previously completed pilot project, COPUS.
Project VEGA has its own website and Instagram profile, along with a recruitment campaign (films, posters, and flyers) produced by Yellow Umwelt.
Project VEGA collaborates with ARCA for training in Copenhagen and Aarhus, and with CrossFit North for training in Aalborg.
Primary Investigator: Bolette Skjødt Rafn
Responsible for Zealand: Victor Sørensen
Responsible for Jutland: Martin Færch Andersen
Purpose
To investigate the effect of participating in a specially tailored exercise community in fitness centers compared to standard care on improving mental and physical health among young adults treated with antipsychotic medication. The effect of the exercise community will primarily be assessed in terms of improvement in personal recovery (defined as the experience of living a meaningful life despite symptoms of mental illness) after 4 months and secondarily in relation to a range of other clinically important physiological parameters, symptom domains, and functional outcomes.
Methods, Design, and Study Procedures
The research project is a pragmatic, randomized controlled, single-blinded trial. Participants are young adults aged 18-35 with a mental illness requiring antipsychotic medication. The study tests the effect of a tailored exercise program (Vega Exercise Community) in fitness centers, offered 3x60 minutes per week, compared to standard care. The study duration is 12 months, and data on outcomes (see below) is collected at baseline, 4 months (primary outcome), 6 months, and 12 months.
To investigate retention strategies, participants in the intervention group will undergo a second randomization after 4 months, assigning them to either minimal support (continued free access to the exercise program) or extended support (continued free access, motivational text messages, and goal-setting conversations) to sustain exercise behavior until 6 months. Participants allocated to standard care will be offered access to the exercise community for 4 months after the trial period ends.
The primary outcome is calculated as self-reported improvement in personal recovery from baseline to 4 months.
Study Participants
Participants are patients with a mental illness receiving antipsychotic medication.
Inclusion criteria:
Diagnosed according to ICD-10: schizophrenia spectrum disorder (F20-F29) or affective disorder (F30-F39)
Currently receiving antipsychotic medication (any dose) and have been on it for at least one month
Aged 18-35 years
Understands Danish
Able and willing to participate in the exercise community
Exclusion criteria:
Financing
The study is primarily funded by a research grant from TrygFonden, with additional support from Helsefonden and the Toyota Foundation.