Exercise Training to Improve PTSD Symptoms and Health in Older Veterans

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

In brief

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent among military Veterans and is more than just a psychological condition; PTSD has profound negative impacts on health, function, and quality of life. Older Veterans are the largest patient population served by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and many have lived with PTSD for 40+ years. Veterans with PTSD engage in low levels of physical activity and spend much of their time in sedentary activities, adding to their risk of physical disability. The benefits of exercise on mental health and physical well-being in older adults are well-substantiated, but the effects of exercise training on late-life PTSD symptoms is a new area of study. This study is designed to examine the effects of 6 months of supervised exercise training on PTSD symptoms and PTSD-related conditions (e.g., functional impairment, sleep) in 188 older Veterans with PTSD.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04199182

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

80

Starts

2021-06-07

Expected to finish

2025-02-28

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-25

Who can join

Age: 65 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Veteran status
• registered for care at Durham VA Health Care System (VAHCS)
• live within 50 miles of fitness facility
• meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD as assessed by the CAPS-5

You may not qualify if…

• history of any psychiatric disorder with severe psychotic features in the past 5 years (e.g., bipolar disorder, mania), as indicated by ICD-10 codes F20-F29 (ICD-9 category 298.9)
• prominent suicidal ideation or hospitalization for suicidality in the previous 6 months
• clinically significant: neurological disorder, systemic illness affecting central nervous system (CNS) function, or history of seizure disorder in the past 5 years
• uncontrolled diabetes defined as:
• Abnormal fasting plasma glucose 126 mg/dL, random plasma glucose 200 mg/dL
• no active medications for diabetes management (Metformin, insulin, etc.)
• no clinical notes in the patient's electronic health record (EHR) indicating monitoring by primary care physician (PCP) or Endo for diabetes management)
• end stage liver disease or currently receiving dialysis
• physical disabilities precluding use of exercise equipment (assistive mobility devices acceptable)
• significant cognitive impairment or diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia
• hospitalization or ER visit in the past 6 months for conditions contraindicated for exercise (cardiac event; physical trauma)

Where it is running

• Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC — Durham, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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