Exercise and Health Intervention for Patients With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Testing the Efficacy of an Exercise Intervention for Patients With OCD

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 2

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01242735

Enrollment

Registered

2010-11-17

Start date

2010-11-30

Completion date

2015-03-31

Last updated

2015-07-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Keywords

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, OCD, Exercise, Aerobic Exercise

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to test the effect of a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise intervention for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) patients interested in reducing symptoms. The investigators expect that this project will contribute much needed knowledge about the role that aerobic exercise can play in managing the effects of OCD. If moderate-intensity aerobic exercise is efficacious in helping individuals with OCD manage obsessions and compulsions, this will establish that aerobic exercise may be a valuable adjunct to other OCD treatments such as medication and therapy.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALAerobic exercise

12-week moderate-intensity behavioral exercise intervention. Weekly sessions with an exercise physiologist who will also assign weekly exercise goals.

BEHAVIORALHealth and Wellness

12-week health and wellness education control. Weekly sessions about 12 different topics related to OCD, led by an OCD expert.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. are between 18 and 65 years of age 2. are sedentary, i.e. have not participated in regular aerobic physical exercise for at least 90 minutes per week during the past three months 3. currently engaged in at least 12 weeks of stable dose pharmacotherapy and/or are currently engaged in cognitive-behavioral therapy for the past 13 weeks 4. meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) criteria for OCD as assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders, Patient Version (SCID-P) 5. have Y-BOCS score greater than 16

Exclusion criteria

1. DSM-IV diagnosis of substance abuse/dependence except for nicotine dependence 2. DSM-IV diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia nervosa 3. DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder 4. history of psychotic disorder or current psychotic symptoms 5. current suicidality or homicidality 6. marked organic impairment 7. physical or medical problems that would not allow for safe exercise participation 8. current pregnancy or intent to become pregnant during the next 12 weeks

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS; OCD symptomatology)	15 months

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026