Exergames in Mental Health

NCT07387757 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: MENTALHEALTH2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 12
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Mental health and stress-related disorders have a growing impact on physical functioning, motivation, and participation in daily activities. Several studies indicate that integrating physical therapy into mental health programs improves functional status, reduces associated physical symptoms (fatigue, muscle tension, somatization), and promotes emotional regulation through movement. However, its implementation in clinical services remains limited. This project proposes to evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative mental health-oriented physical therapy program using active video games (exergames) on the Nintendo Switch platform, an accessible, motivating tool that can be adapted to each patient's functional level. Objective: To determine whether a structured physiotherapy program based on exergames promotes physical exercise, improves quality of life, and increases therapeutic adherence in patients with mental illness. Methods: An experimental pilot study will be conducted, implementing an intervention over 4 weeks, with 2 sessions per week lasting 40 minutes. Participants (n=12) will be assigned to an intervention group (exergames with Nintendo Switch) or a control group (usual routine). Quality of life, motivation, and therapeutic adherence will be assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, and a satisfaction questionnaire. Expected results: The intervention group is expected to show better quality of life, greater motivation to exercise, and greater adherence to treatment. It is also expected to demonstrate that exergames are a viable tool, accepted by patients and incorporable into mental health physical therapy programs.

Conditions

Mental Disorders

Keywords

Exergames; Physiotherapy; Exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Quality of life: World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF (WHOQOL-BREF)

  The WHOQOL-BREF is a questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization to assess perceived quality of life. It is an abbreviated version of the WHOQOL-100 and contains 26 items that explore four main dimensions: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment. It also includes two general questions on the overall perception of quality of life and satisfaction with health. It is a widely used, valid, and reliable instrument in different populations, providing a comprehensive and comparative view of people's well-being in their life context. It has been used in psychiatric populations and in studies with people with various mental disorders, and there is scientific evidence of its use and psychometric properties in this context.

  Day 1, day 15 and day 29

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Motivation: Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI)

  Day 1, day 15 and day 29

• Adverse effects

  Day 1, day 15 and day 29

Study Arms (2)

Exergames

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will undergo physical therapy based on active video games using the Nintendo Switch, with games selected for their ability to promote physical activity: * Ring Fit Adventure (guided training, integrated breathing). * Nintendo Switch Sports (overall movement, coordination). * Just Dance (motivational cardiovascular activation).

Other: Control

Conventional

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This group will continue to carry out the usual intervention

Procedure: EXERCISE TRAINING WITH OR WITHOUT MEDICATION

Interventions

EXERCISE TRAINING WITH OR WITHOUT MEDICATION PROCEDURE

Participants will undergo physical therapy based on active video games using the Nintendo Switch, with games selected for their ability to promote physical activity, for 2 sessions/week, 40 minutes, for 4 weeks: * Ring Fit Adventure (guided training, integrated breathing). * Nintendo Switch Sports (overall movement, coordination). * Just Dance (motivational cardiovascular activation).

Also known as: Exergames with Nintendo Switch

Conventional

Control OTHER

This group will continue to perform the usual intervention that has scheduled.

Also known as: Control group

Exergames

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults between 18 and 65 years of age.
• Clinical diagnosis of mental illness.
• Psychopharmacological stability for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
• Ability to perform light-moderate physical exercise.
• Written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Severe psychiatric diagnoses with psychotic involvement or high suicide risk.
• Neurological or musculoskeletal conditions that limit the safe practice of exercise.
• Active substance use that interferes with the intervention.
• Moderate-severe cognitive impairment.
• Recent participation (\<3 months) in other intervention studies.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Salamanca: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Salamanca

Salamanca, Salamanca, 37007, Spain

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mental Disorders; Motor Activity

Interventions

Exercise; Dosage Forms; Exergaming; Control Groups

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Technology, Pharmaceutical; Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Research Design; Methods

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 17, 2026
• First Posted: February 4, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: April 30, 2026
• Study Completion: May 15, 2026
• Last Updated: May 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)