Outdoor Exercise Program for Mental Illness

(PARCS Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Catherine L Davis, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Kansas State University

Disqualifiers: Under 18, No physician clearance

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 12 weeks

100 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The aim of this project is to trial the protocol of a park-based physical activity (PA) intervention in adults with serious mental illness (SMI) in a community mental health center's peer support program.

Who Is on the Research Team?

Gina M Besenyi, MPH, PhD

Principal Investigator

Kansas State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The PARCS study is for adults with serious mental illness who are part of a community mental health center's peer support program and have been medically cleared to engage in physical activity. It's not suitable for those under 18 or anyone unable to get physician clearance for exercise.

Inclusion Criteria

Authorized for peer group treatment through the behavioral health facility

Medically cleared to participate in physical activity (if indicated by ACSM 11th Edition pre-exercise participation screener)

Exclusion Criteria

Unable to obtain physician clearance (if indicated by ACSM 11th Edition pre-exercise participation screener)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a 12-week park-based physical activity intervention, including aerobic and resistance training led by certified peer counselors.

12 weeks

3 sessions per week

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in depressive symptoms, feasibility, acceptability, and other health outcomes post-intervention.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Active Control
• Park-based physical activity

Trial Overview This study tests a park-based physical activity intervention against an active control group to see if it reduces cardiometabolic risk in adults with serious mental illness participating in peer group treatment.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

PARCS is a park-based physical activity intervention including aerobic and resistance training adapted for adults with serious mental illness and led by certified peer counselors as part of peer group mental health recovery services.

Group II: Active Control Active Control 1 Intervention

The active control group will receive information about the importance of park-based PA and a map of local park locations but will not participate in structured park-based PA sessions. Participants in the control group will be invited to participate in park PA sessions after they have completed posttest. Participants in both groups will receive usual care outpatient peer group treatment services, including routine counseling and health and wellness information/activities given by CPSs.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Kansas State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

39

Recruited

13,400+

Augusta University

Collaborator

Trials

219

Recruited

85,900+

Dartmouth College

Collaborator

Trials

93

Recruited

1,415,000+

University of Cincinnati

Collaborator

Trials

442

Recruited

639,000+