Analogue Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
anxiety
Brief summary
This protocol details the full methods of two parallel, randomized controlled trials of an eight-week resistance exercise training intervention compared to a wait-list control condition among young adults with and without analogue-Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Detailed description
Recent meta-analyses support the chronic anxiolytic effects of resistance exercise training among women with diagnosed Generalized Anxiety Disorder. However, the effects of resistance exercise training among those with subclinical, or analogue-Generalized Anxiety Disorder is unknown. This protocol details the full methods of two parallel, randomized controlled trials of an eight-week resistance exercise training intervention compared to a wait-list control condition among young adults with and without analogue-Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Analogue-Generalized Anxiety Disorder status was determined using validated cut-scores for both the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire Generalized Anxiety Disorder sub-scale score of 6 or greater, and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire score of 45 or greater. The ecologically-valid resistance exercise training was designed according to World Health Organization and American College of Sports Medicine guidelines.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALResistance exercise training
The ecologically-valid resistance exercise training was designed according to World Health Organization and American College of Sports Medicine guidelines. The eight-week, twice-weekly intervention was designed to be performed at a moderate intensity. The resistance of each exercise was such that when participants could successfully complete 2 sets of 12 repetitions at a certain load, the resistance was increased incrementally up to 5% for the following session. Exercise sessions were scheduled with at least one day of rest between sessions. The eight exercises included the barbell squat, barbell bench press, hexagon bar deadlift, dumbbell shoulder lateral raise, barbell bent over rows, dumbbell lunges, dumbbell curls, and abdominal crunches.
OTHERWait-list
Participants randomized to the delayed-start wait-list condition completed questionnaires once-weekly. The investigator sent a weekly email to the participant providing links to the questionnaires. Participants that completed the eight-week wait-list condition were offered the eight weeks of RET either immediately upon completion, or later at a time of their convenience while the trial was ongoing. Each participant randomized to the eight-week wait-list also completed two 30-minute bouts of seated quiet rest in an empty room at weeks one and eight.
Sponsors
Irish Research Council
University of Limerick
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
The principal investigator was blinded to participant allocation, and the analyses were performed blinded to group. Participants' individual identification numbers assigned at baseline were used during the course of the trial. Following full data extraction from SurveyMonkey.com, identifying information were removed, such that no participant could be identified in the working dataset through one, or a combination of different variables.
Intervention model description
Two parallel, randomized controlled trials of an eight-week resistance exercise training intervention compared to a wait-list control condition among young adults with and without analogue-Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Inclusion criteria were age 18-40y; no medical contraindication to safe participation in resistance exercise training; and no current pregnancy or lactation.
Exclusion criteria
\-
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Analogue-Generalized Anxiety Disorder Status | Baseline | The Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire Generalized Anxiety Disorder subscale score of 6 or greater (Zimmerman & Mattia, 2001, Arch of Gen Psychiatr) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Depressive Symptoms | Baseline | 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (Rush et al., 2003, Bio Psychiatr) |
| Mood | Baseline | Subscales of the Profile of Mood States - Brief Form (McNair et al., 1992) |
| Irritability | Baseline | 21-item Irritability Questionnaire (Craig et al., 2008, Psychiatr Res) |
| Sleep Quality | Baseline | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Buysse et al., 1989, Psychiatr Res) |
| Anxiety Symptoms | Baseline | State and trait anxiety were measured using the State (STAI-Y1) and Trait (STAI-Y2) subscales of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 2010, Corsini Encycl of Psychol) |
| A novel questionnaire assessing expectancy of exercise to improve or not to improve physical and mental health outcomes. (Lindheimer et al., 2019, Eur J of Sport Sci) | Baseline | Participants are asked to what degree they believe a single bout of exercise will improve or worsen various domains of physical and mental health |
| Attentional Biases | Baseline | Attentional bias to positive, negative, and neutral facial images (Gotlin et al., 2004, J of Abnorm Psychol) |
| Cognitive Function | Baseline | Stroop colour and word test, (Williams et al., 1996, Psychol Bull) and Trail Making Test (Tombaugh, 2004, Arch of Clin Neuropsychol) |
| Non-Intervention Physical Activity | Baseline | 7-day Physical Activity Recall (Blair et al., 1985, Am J of Epidemiol) |
Countries
Ireland
Outcome results
None listed