Exercise and Emotional Learning in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: PTSD

• Registration Number: NCT06127342
• Lead Sponsor: Christal L Badour

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to test how exercise affects learning and memory processes relevant to the treatment of PTSD. Participants will complete a baseline intake followed by two experimental sessions. During the first experimental session, participants will undergo an MRI session of imaginal exposure to traumatic memory cues followed by 30-minutes of moderate intensity exercise or low intensity exercise. Participants will complete a second session of imaginal exposure with MRI 24 hours later.

Detailed Description

The proposed project would build on our published pilot data and animal models to demonstrate that moderate intensity physical exercise delivered after exposure therapy engages fear circuitry and enhances the consolidation of therapeutic safety learning, thereby enabling enhanced symptom reduction for PTSD. Adults with PTSD related to interpersonal violence (IPV) exposure would complete an initial session of imaginal exposure to traumatic memory cues adapted for an MRI setting. This would be followed by 30-mins of moderate intensity exercise or low intensity exercise control. Participants would return 24-hrs later to complete a second session of imaginal exposure with MRI.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-11-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-11-06
• Study First Posted: 2023-11-13
• Study Start: 2024-05-13
• Status Verified: 2025-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-08-26
• Last Update Posted: 2025-09-03
• Primary Completion: 2026-09-30
• Study Completion: 2026-11-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

• Adults with PTSD related to interpersonal violence

Exclusion Criteria

• Active or recent (within the last 3 months) severe substance use disorder(s)
• Active or recent (within the last 3 months) suicidal, psychotic, or manic symptoms/ episodes
• Significant developmental disabilities
• Current daily benzodiazepine or stimulant use with inability to abstain for study sessions
• Recent changes in psychiatric medication or trauma focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) (past 4-weeks)
• Medical condition(s) that prohibit exercise
• History of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with loss of consciousness > 30 mins
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contraindication(s)
• Positive pregnancy test
• History of seizure disorder
• Spontaneous seizure(s) within the last 3 months

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in participant subjective emotional ratings	24 hours	Participant anxiety will be measured at baseline and after each imagery trial using a 10-point Likert-type scale with higher scores indicative of more subjective anxiety.
Change in Fear Circuit Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) Response	48 hours	Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) imaging will be measured during each imagery trial
Change in Heart Rate	24 hours	Participant heart rate will be measured at baseline and after each imagery trial using a Biopac MP160 system

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

University of Kentucky; 🇺🇸 Lexington, Kentucky, United States

University of Texas; 🇺🇸 Austin, Texas, United States