MedPath

Performance Anxiety Changes With Exercise

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Performance Anxiety
Interventions
Other: high-intensive aerobe exercise
Other: low-intensive aerobe exercise
Registration Number
NCT03562312
Lead Sponsor
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
Brief Summary

This study investigates the effect of high-intense aerobe exercise training (HIIT) and aerobe exercise of low intensity on clinical and physiological parameters (anxiety, activity, cortisol, alpha amylase, heart rate, heart rate variability, spiroergometry) in patients with Music Performance Anxiety (MPA). Half of the patients will receive HIIT, while the other half will receive aerobe exercise of low intensity.

Detailed Description

In this study, 20 patients with MPA will receive a high-intensive aerobe training (HIIT, 6 HIIT-sessions of 20 minutes within a period of 12 days). Additionally, 20 MPA-patients will undergo a less intense aerobe training matched regarding frequency and duration of sessions. Prior to the first training session, after completing the training (day 12) and 10 days after the Training (day 22), symptoms of anxiety and will be assessed by using questionnaires. Moreover, heart rate and heart rate variability will be obtained and activity level is measured using accelerometers. Before and after the training there will be an assessment of saliva samples for measuring cortisol and alpha amylase.

Furthermore, a standardized performance situation is established before and after the Training. Before, during and after the performance anxiety ratings, cortisol, alpha amylase, heart rate and heart rate variability are assessed.

The investigators hypothesize, that patients with MPA which undergo HIIT, will show a stronger and more sustained improvement of both, clinical symptoms and physiological measures. Specifically, a decreased heart rate, higher heart rate variability and decreased endocrinological parameters.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
28
Inclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, Performance only subtype due to DSM-5
  • Appropriate abilities to communicate and to complete the questionnaires
  • Written informed consent
  • Possibility of regular attendance at the training sessions
  • Participant is a classical instrumentalist
Exclusion Criteria
  • Other severe mental conditions than MPA (e.g. schizophrenia, severe depressive episode, addiction)
  • Acute suicidality
  • Epilepsy or other disorders of the central nervous system (e.g. tumor, encephalitis)
  • Contraindications to aerobe exercise Training
  • Start or modification of an anxiolytic pharmacotherapy or other therapy within the last four weeks
  • Current psychotherapy
  • no sufficient capability to consent to trial

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
high-intensive aerobe exercisehigh-intensive aerobe exerciseAerobe bicycle ergometer training within 77-95% of maximum oxygen consumption; duration of each training session: 20 minutes; frequency of training: 6 sessions within 12 days
low-intensive aerobe exerciselow-intensive aerobe exerciseAerobe training below 70% of maximum oxygen consumption (including light stretching and simple exercises adapted from yoga figures); duration of training session: 20 minutes; frequency of training: 6 sessions within 12 days
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
BühnenangstfragebogenChange from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days)

Bühnenangstfragebogen is a questionnaire measuring Music Performance Anxiety. It is the German Version of the PAQ (Performance Anxiety Questionnaire)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Screening für somatoforme Störungen (SOMS-7T)Change from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days)

SOMS-7T is a questionnaire for detecting the changes in somatisation

Screening für somatoforme Störungen (SOMS-2)Only one assessment at baseline to assess differences between the two intervention groups

SOMS-2 is a questionnaire for detecting the severity of somatisation

NEO-FFI personality inventoryOnly one assessment at baseline to assess differences between the two intervention groups

personality inventory measuring neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness

Resilienzskala (RS-13)Change from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days)

A Questionnaire measuring resilience

Trierer Inventar zum chronischen Stress (TICS)Only one assessment at baseline to assess differences between the two intervention groups

TICS is an inventory measuring chronic stress

Angstkontrollfragebogen (AKF)Change from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days)

AKF is the German Version of the Anxiety Control Questionnaire

Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI)Change from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days)

ASI is a Questionnaire measuring anxiety sensitivity

Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)Change from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days)

BAI is a questionnaire measuring anxiety

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)Change from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days)

BDI is a questionnaire measuring depression

Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS)Change from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days)

LSAS is a questionnaire measuring social anxiety

Fragebogen zu sozialphobischen Kognitionen (SPK)Change from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days)

SPK is the German Version of the social cognitions questionnaire. It measures cognitions in social situations

saliva cortisol hormoneChange from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and in performance situations 1 and 2 (+15 days)

Cortisol is an established marker of the psychophysiological stress response and obtained with help of Salivettes absorbing saliva

saliva alpha Amylase hormoneFrom Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and during performance situations 1 (Baseline) and 2 (+15 days)

Alpha amylase is an established marker of the psychophysiological stress Response and obtained with help of Salivettes absorbing saliva

heart rateChange from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days), from Baseline to Follow-up and during performance situations 1 (Baseline) and 2 (+15 days)

Measurement of heart rate

heart rate variabilityChange from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days), from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days) and during performance situations 1 (Baseline) and 2 (+15 days)

heart rate variability is a non-invasive method to measure autonomic nervous System function

visual analogue scale for anxiety (VAS)Change during performance situations 1 (baseline) and 2 (+15 days)

VAS is a scale measuring an individual's anxiety in a specific situation

AccelerometerChange from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days)

With help of an accelerometer the activity level of a person can be measured

International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF)Change from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days)

With the IPAQ-SF the physical activity of an individual during the last 7 days can be measured

K-MPAIChange from Baseline to post therapy (+12 days) and from Baseline to follow-up (+22 days)

Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory is a questionnaire measuring Music Performance Anxiety

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte

🇩🇪

Berlin, Germany

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath