PTSD
Conditions
Keywords
Interpersonal Violence, Exercise
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to test how exercise affects learning and memory processes relevant to the treatment of PTSD. Participants will complete a baseline intake followed by two experimental sessions. During the first experimental session, participants will undergo an MRI session of imaginal exposure to traumatic memory cues followed by 30-minutes of moderate intensity exercise or low intensity exercise. Participants will complete a second session of imaginal exposure with MRI 24 hours later.
Detailed description
The proposed project would build on our published pilot data and animal models to demonstrate that moderate intensity physical exercise delivered after exposure therapy engages fear circuitry and enhances the consolidation of therapeutic safety learning, thereby enabling enhanced symptom reduction for PTSD. Adults with PTSD related to interpersonal violence (IPV) exposure would complete an initial session of imaginal exposure to traumatic memory cues adapted for an MRI setting. This would be followed by 30-mins of moderate intensity exercise or low intensity exercise control. Participants would return 24-hrs later to complete a second session of imaginal exposure with MRI.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALModerate Intensity Exercise
Participants will wear a heartrate monitor and cycle on a stationary bike at a slow speed for 5 minutes, then slowly cycle on a stationary bike for 30 minutes, then cycle on the stationary bike at a slow speed for 5 minutes.
BEHAVIORALLow Intensity Exercise
Participants will wear a heartrate monitor and cycle on a stationary bike at a slow speed for 40 minutes.
Sponsors
University of Texas at Austin
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Christal L Badour
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 64 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adults with PTSD related to interpersonal violence
Exclusion criteria
* Active or recent (within the last 3 months) severe substance use disorder(s) * Active or recent (within the last 3 months) suicidal, psychotic, or manic symptoms/ episodes * Significant developmental disabilities * Current daily benzodiazepine or stimulant use with inability to abstain for study sessions * Recent changes in psychiatric medication or trauma focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) (past 4-weeks) * Medical condition(s) that prohibit exercise * History of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with loss of consciousness \> 30 mins * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contraindication(s) * Positive pregnancy test * History of seizure disorder * Spontaneous seizure(s) within the last 3 months
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in participant subjective emotional ratings | 24 hours | Participant anxiety will be measured at baseline and after each imagery trial using a 10-point Likert-type scale with higher scores indicative of more subjective anxiety. |
| Change in Heart Rate | 24 hours | Participant heart rate will be measured at baseline and after each imagery trial using a Biopac MP160 system |
| Change in Fear Circuit Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) Response | 48 hours | Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) imaging will be measured during each imagery trial |
Countries
United States
Contacts
Primary ContactChristal G Badour, PhD
Outcome results
None listed