Can Exercise Improve Therapeutic Learning Among Women With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- PTSD
- Sponsor
- Thomas Adams
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Participant Skin Conductance Responding (SCR)
- Status
- Withdrawn
- Last Updated
- 4 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study aims to test whether aerobic exercise improves the consolidation and subsequent recall of the learned safety memories among adult women with PTSD related to interpersonal violence exposure and whether this effect is mediated by the ability of exercise to increase acute levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and endocannabinoids (eCB). Participants can expect to be on study for up to 90 days, participating in 4 study sessions: Day 1 of Intake Screening, Day 2 of Emotional Learning, Day 3 of Fear Extinction and Exercise, and Day 4 of Recall of Emotional Learning.
Investigators
Thomas Adams
Assistant Professor
University of Kentucky
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Current diagnosis of PTSD where the index traumatic event includes physical or sexual assault
- •English speaking
- •Medically healthy
Exclusion Criteria
- •Any endorsed medical concerns related to physical activity (as probed in the phone screening questions regarding cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disease and as assessed via the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), which probes into participants' history of heart conditions, chest pain, dizziness, loss of consciousness, bone/joint problems, and medication history). Participants would not be excluded if they report this condition being "controlled" or "addressed" through medication or lifestyle change, such as regular exercise.
- •Major medical disorders (such as cancer, AIDS)
- •Physical discomfort or difficulty with blood draws
- •Psychotic disorders
- •Intellectual disabilities
- •Developmental disorders
- •Active substance use disorders
- •Pregnancy
- •Due to safety concerns, participants with these conditions will be ineligible to participate:
- •Major medical disorders (e.g., HIV, cancer)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Participant Skin Conductance Responding (SCR)
Time Frame: up to Day 4
Aim 1 fear extinction analyses consists of a 2 (group: low-intensity exercise vs moderate-intensity exercise) x 2 (cue: conditioned fear and safety) x 2 (task phase context: learning context vs extinction context) mixed design focused on Day 4 fear responding (skin conductance responses). SCR data will be acquired on a BIOPAC MP150 Data Acquisition System (BIOPAC Systems, Inc.) with electrodes placed on participant's left hand. Participants will be instructed to select an intensity of a 7/10 on the subjective pain scale, which should be "uncomfortable, but not painful." Average intensity of participant skin conductance will be reported.
Group Differences in Serum Endocannabinoid (eCB) Content
Time Frame: before and after 30 min exercise on Day 3
Aim 2 group differences in eCB consists of a 2 (group: moderate-intensity vs low-intensity) x 2 (cue: conditioned fear and safety) x 2 (task phase context: learning context vs extinction context) x 2 (timepoint: pre condition vs post condition,) mixed design. The hypothesis is eCBs increases following exercise will separately mediate the relationship between aerobic exercise and enhanced fear extinction recall.
Group Differences in Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
Time Frame: before and after 30 min exercise on Day 3
Aim 2 group differences in BDNF consists of a 2 (group: moderate-intensity vs low-intensity) x 2 (cue: conditioned fear and safety) x 2 (task phase context: learning context vs extinction context) x 2 (timepoint: pre condition vs post condition,) mixed design. The hypothesis is BDNF increases following exercise will separately mediate the relationship between aerobic exercise and enhanced fear extinction recall.
Participant Expectancy Ratings
Time Frame: Up to day 4
Aim 1 fear extinction analyses consists of a 2 (group: low-intensity exercise vs moderate-intensity exercise) x 2 (cue: conditioned fear and safety) x 2 (task phase context: learning context vs extinction context) mixed design focused on Day 4 fear responding (expectancy ratings). Expectancy will be assessed throughout each phase of the experiment to estimate the degree to which the subject believes she will receive a shock following presentation of certain pictures presented during the experiment.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)(at each visit, up to Day 4)
- Change in Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS)(at each visit, up to Day 4)
- Change in Profile of Mood States (POMS) Questionnaire(at each visit, up to Day 4)