Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Exercise for Anxiety
Sponsor: NYU Langone Health
Summary
90 sedentary adults with a primary anxiety disorder and high anxiety sensitivity will be randomized to either 8 weeks of 1) low intensity exercise, or 2) flexible titration to high intensity exercise (HIE). Blinded, validated clinician-rated and patient-rated outcomes will be assessed over treatment and at 1- and 3-month follow-up. To better understand what mechanisms influence decisions to exercise in the real-world, we will use of heart rate (HR) as an objective mechanistic target for exercise intensity, examine changes in valuation of exercise through a neuroeconomics task, examine changes in interoceptive sensitivity with a heartbeat detection task, and integrate of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to measure effects of immediate changes in mood with exercise on anxiety outcomes and adherence.
Official title: Optimizing Exercise for the Treatment of Anxiety
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
111
Start Date
2021-06-30
Completion Date
2026-04-30
Last Updated
2025-12-17
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Titration to high intensity exercise (T-HIE)
All participants will receive psychoeducation regarding the rationale for using exercise as a strategy to create immediate changes in mood and anxiety. Participants will be instructed in basic motivational principles (e.g., breaking up goals into smaller parts, using rewards) based on information in Exercise for Mood and Anxiety. Participants will begin at low intensity with the goal of titrating to high intensity by 2 weeks prior to the end of trial (Week 6). If a participant achieves at least 70% of the duration goal at the target heart rate, he/she will be titrated to the next dose level (moderate intensity). This will continue until high intensity exercise is achieved. Prescription is based on heart rate reserve((maximum heart rate \[220-age\] - resting heart rate)\*intensity percent - resting heart rate. Intensity percent lower/upper limits for moderate intensity are 40-59% and for high intensity are 60-84%.
Low intensity exercise prescription
All participants will receive psychoeducation regarding the rationale for using exercise as a strategy to create immediate changes in mood and anxiety. Participants will be instructed in basic motivational principles (e.g., breaking up goals into smaller parts, using rewards) based on information in Exercise for Mood and Anxiety. Prescription is based on heart rate reserve ((maximum heart rate \[220-age\] - resting heart rate)\*30-39% (lower/upper limit of zone) - resting heart rate.
Locations (1)
NYU Langone Health
New York, New York, United States