Cognitive effectiveness of high-intensity interval training for individuals with methamphetamine dependence: a study protocol for randomised controlled trial

• Published in: Current controlled trials in cardiovascular medicine Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 650 - 12
• Main Authors: Menglu, Shen, Suyong, Yang, Xiaoyan, Wang, Schöllhorn, Wolfgang I, Dong, Zhu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 23-09-2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Aerobics; Care and treatment; Clinical trials; Cocaine; Cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive ability; Cognitive function; Decision making; Drug abuse; Drug addiction; Drug withdrawal; Exercise; Exercise intensity; Exercise Test; Heroin; High-Intensity Interval Training; Humans; Inhibitory control; Interval training; Intervention; Mental disorders; Mental health; Methamphetamine; Methamphetamine - adverse effects; Moderate-intensity continuous training; Nervous system; Personality disorders; Physical fitness; Physiological aspects; Psychological aspects; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Rehabilitation; Study Protocol; Substance abuse; Substance abuse treatment; China; High-intensity interval training; Inhibitory control; Moderate-intensity continuous training; Cognitive function; Methamphetamine
• ISSN: 1745-6215; 1745-6215
• DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05615-9

Cognitive deficit is a common syndrome of methamphetamine (MA) dependence. It is related to decision-making, control ability, and social functioning. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a training technique that requires people to work out at full intensity during a short period. Many studies have already shown the potential effects of HIIT on cognitive functions. The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the cognitive effects of HIIT on individuals with MA dependence.
A total of 240 individuals with MA dependence will be randomly assigned to the HIIT group, moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) group and control (CON) group. HIIT will consist of a 24-min HIIT exercise on a treadmill. MICT will consist of a 1-h body-mind exercise. CON will be their traditional intervention. The experimental period will be 12 months with 3 interventions weekly for the first 6 months and follow-up for the next 6 months. All subjects will be given cognitive tests at baseline, after intervention and at follow-up. Cognitive performances will be compared by a mixed-model analysis for repeated measures.
HIIT training may reduce illicit drug cravings amongst individuals with MA dependence; hence, HIIT may have a good effect on the cognitive functions, such as memory and executive function, of individuals with MA dependence.
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000032492 . Registered on April 30, 2020 ( http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=52127&htm=4 ).