Physical exercise augmented cognitive behaviour therapy for older adults with generalised anxiety disorder (PEXACOG): a feasibility study for a randomized controlled trial

BioPsychoSocial Medicine

Research

Å. Hammar¹  I. H. Nordhus²  H. M. Nordahl³  A. Halmøy⁴  J. F. Thayer⁵  J. Mohlman⁶  K. Specht⁷  H. Hjelmervik⁸  T. B. Endal⁹  T. Sjøbø⁹  Å. Rekdal⁹  S. H. Stavestrand^1,10  A. Hovland^1,10  Kristine Sirevåg^1,10  E. Andersson^1,11 

[1] Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7807, NO- 5020, Bergen, Norway;Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway;Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7800, NO-5020, Bergen, Norway;Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1078, NO-0316, Blindern, Oslo, Norway;Department of Mental Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7030, Trondheim, Norway;Department of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, P.O. Box 1400, Kronstad DPS, NO- 5021, Bergen, Norway;Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7804, NO-5020, Bergen, Norway;Department of Psychological Science, The University of California, Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, 92697, Irvine, CA, USA;Department of Psychology, William Paterson University, 300 Pomton Road, 07470, Wayne, NJ, USA;Faculty of humanities, social sciences and education, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway;Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7807, NO- 5020, Bergen, Norway;School of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Kalfarveien 78c, 5022, Bergen, Norway;Solli DPS, Osvegen 15 Nesttun, 5228, Bergen, Norway;Solli DPS, Osvegen 15 Nesttun, 5228, Bergen, Norway;Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7800, NO-5020, Bergen, Norway;The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, GIH, 5626 SE-114 86, Stockholm, box, Sweden;Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 177, Stockholm, Sweden;

关键词: Generalised anxiety disorder;    GAD;    Cognitive behaviour therapy;    CBT;    Physical exercise;    Older adults;    Feasibility study;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13030-023-00280-7

 received in 2022-06-22, accepted in 2023-07-04,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundGeneralised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a frequent and severe disorder among older adults. For older adults with GAD the effect of the recommended treatment, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), is reduced. Physical exercise (PE) may enhance the effect of CBT by improving cognitive function and increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a predictor of the effect of CBT in patients with anxiety. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating treatment effect of the combination of CBT and PE for GAD in a sample of older adults, including procedures for assessment and treatment.MethodsFour participants aged 62–70 years (M = 65.5, SD = 3.2) with a primary diagnosis of GAD were included. Participants received 15 weeks of PE in combination with 10 weeks of CBT. Participants completed self-report measures, and clinical, biological, physiological and neuropsychological tests at pre-, interim- and post-treatment.ResultsProcedures, protocols, and results are presented. One participant dropped out during treatment. For the three participants completing, the total adherence to PE and CBT was 80% and 100%, respectively. An independent assessor concluded that the completers no longer fulfilled the criteria for GAD after treatment. Changes in self-report measures suggest symptom reduction related to anxiety and worry. The sample is considered representative for the target population.ConclusionsThe results indicate that combining CBT and PE for older adults with GAD is feasible, and that the procedures and tests are suitable and manageable for the current sample.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02690441. Registered on 24 February 2016, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02690441.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023. corrected publication, 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 6

Fig. 2

13690_2023_1147_Article_IEq19.gif

13690_2023_1147_Article_IEq16.gif