Abstract:

Abstract Physical activity is widely recognized as an important behavioral means of risk prevention and illness management, or alternatively, recovery and the realization of well-being. Mental health nurses have a holistic approach to the health care of those with mental illness and physical activity is an important component of holistic care. This research was undertaken in order to analyze the effect a physical activity program has on positive and negative symptoms of patients with schizophrenia and their depression levels. This is a randomly controlled experimental study designed with a pre-test and post-test. The Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia were used in this research. The study was carried out with 60 patients, 30 in the experimental and 30 in the control group. The Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests were used, and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated. It was found that there was a significant difference between the mean scores on the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (p<0.05.) According to this study's findings, the physical activity program for patients with schizophrenic had a statistically significant positive effect on their positive and negative symptoms and depression levels. As a results; 1) this randomized-controlled trial investigated the effect of physical activity program on positive and negative symptoms depression levels among of patients with schizophrenia, 2) results of this study on 60 patients with schizophrenia showed that an 12-week group physical activity program was significantly effective in patients with schizophrenia’ positive and negative symptoms depression, 3) physical activity should be routinely included in plans of psychiatric nursing care.

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