The Role of Exercise in the Treatment of PTSD Symptoms

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

In brief

This is an 8-week experimental, repeated-measures clinical trial randomizing 120 Service Members with symptoms of PTSD into one of four groups: 1) imaginal exercises of exposure therapy only, 2) aerobic exercise only, 3) imaginal exercises augmented with aerobic exercise, or 4) self-care.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02649127

Run by

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

People needed

72

Starts

2011-02-01

Expected to finish

2017-05-01

Last updated by the study team

2017-09-11

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• be an Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marine Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) / Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) eligible for military medical care
• be at least 18 years old
• be able to read and speak English
• answer "no" to the seven questions of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), or have primary care provider approval to undertake an exercise program.
• score ≥25 on the PTSD CheckList - Stressor-Specific(PCL-S); participants scoring >50 on the PCL-S will be contacted weekly to ensure that their symptoms are under control and they do not require a higher level of care.
• report on the PTSD Symptom Scale - Interview (PSS-I) an exposure to a traumatic event (Criterion A), at least one re-experiencing symptom (Criterion B), and at least one avoidance symptom (Criterion C)
• participants taking psychotropic medications agree to work with their prescriber to remain on stable doses of any prescribed psychotropic medications for the duration of the intervention and through the 1-month follow-up assessment as much as possible and as medically indicated
• anticipate being in the area for at least three months to complete intervention and 13-week follow-up assessment

You may not qualify if…

• score <25 on the PTSD CheckList - Stressor Specific (PCL-S) (Those scoring <25 do not have enough symptom severity to adequately test the study hypotheses
• have undergone exposure therapy for PTSD within the last year
• be taking benzodiazepines every day on a prescribed schedule (Individuals prescribed and taking a benzodiazepine only as needed will not be excluded.)
• suicidal ideation with moderate to severe intent warranting intervention
• active psychosis or mania
• be on a medical profile that prohibits exercise

Where it is running

• Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center — Fort Hood, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.