Exercise Training for the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Interventions: Other: Endurance Training; Other: Strength Training

• Registration Number: NCT00953654
• Lead Sponsor: University of Georgia

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of 6 weeks of endurance or strength training and a wait list comparison condition on symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2009-08
• Study First Submitted: 2009-08-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-08-04
• Study First Posted: 2009-08-06
• Primary Completion: 2010-05
• Study Completion: 2010-05
• Results First Submitted: 2010-08-17
• Results First Submitted QC: 2010-09-13
• Results First Posted: 2010-09-29
• Status Verified: 2016-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-07-29
• Last Update Posted: 2016-09-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Women aged 18-39 years
• Principal diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria (comorbidities will be acceptable as long as Generalized Anxiety Disorder is the principal diagnosis)

Exclusion Criteria

• A score of less than 45 on the Penn State Worry Questionnaire
• A score of less than 7 on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder section of the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire
• Expending greater than 250 kilocalories per kilogram body weight per week as measured by a 7-day physical activity recall questionnaire
• Engaging in greater than 6 exercise bouts in the month prior to recruitment
• Pregnancy
• Any medical contraindications (cardiovascular or musculoskeletal) to exercise training according to American College of Sports Medicine guidelines

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Endurance Training	Endurance Training	Six-week lower-body dynamic cycling exercise condition completed twice weekly and matched to the strength training arm on total work completed, total time actively engaged in exercise and load progression.
Strength Training	Strength Training	Lower-body strength training exercise twice weekly for 6 weeks at an intensity progressing from 50% to 75% predicted one-repetition maximum

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Remission as Measured by Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule-Adult Version (ADIS-IV) Severity Ratings	Pre- and post- 6 week training intervention	GAD is characterized by persistent excessive or pathologic worry most days for at least 6 months about activities of daily life that is difficult to control and associated with at least 3 of the following symptoms: restlessness, feeling on edge, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep difficulty. Symptoms are not caused by a substance or disorder, but cause significant distress or functional impairment. Remission was measured using the ADIS-IV from 1-16 days following the 6-week intervention.
Worry Symptoms	Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, Week 6	Worry symptoms, hallmark symptoms of GAD, were assessed using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). The PSWQ is a 16-item self-report questionnaire that measures pathological worry symptoms. Participants rate items from 1 "not at all typical of me" to 5 "very typical of me." Scores range from 16 to 80, with higher scores indicated exacerbated worry symptoms. Symptoms were assessed at baseline and at the beginning of the second weekly session during weeks 2, 4, and 6.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The University of Georgia; 🇺🇸 Athens, Georgia, United States