Walking or High Intensity Exercise for Anxiety
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Anxiety, Healthy Studies, Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology, Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 65 |
| Updated: | 2/6/2019 |
| Start Date: | December 11, 2018 |
| End Date: | November 2019 |
| Contact: | Rebecca Lubin |
| Email: | rebecca.lubin@nyulangone.org |
| Phone: | 646 754 7035 |
After an initial phone screen process, approximately 50 participants will be enrolled and
evaluated/screened in person after consenting to achieve 30 eligible participants with a
principal diagnosis of GAD, panic disorder, or social anxiety disorder and high anxiety
sensitivity (Anxiety Sensitivity Index score =20). Participants will be given a choice of
either high intensity interval training (HIIT) or walking interventions, which will be
completed over the course of 8 weeks. The goal of the study is to 1) obtain pilot data
comparing the efficacy of HIIT vs. walking for effects on psychiatric, functioning and immune
outcomes, 2) to identify adherence levels given the choice of exercise intensity, and 3) to
identify proportion of individuals opting for each intervention. Results from this pilot
study will be used to inform future grant applications including a K award.
evaluated/screened in person after consenting to achieve 30 eligible participants with a
principal diagnosis of GAD, panic disorder, or social anxiety disorder and high anxiety
sensitivity (Anxiety Sensitivity Index score =20). Participants will be given a choice of
either high intensity interval training (HIIT) or walking interventions, which will be
completed over the course of 8 weeks. The goal of the study is to 1) obtain pilot data
comparing the efficacy of HIIT vs. walking for effects on psychiatric, functioning and immune
outcomes, 2) to identify adherence levels given the choice of exercise intensity, and 3) to
identify proportion of individuals opting for each intervention. Results from this pilot
study will be used to inform future grant applications including a K award.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Anxiety Sensitivity Index score of ≥20 (i.e., high anxiety sensitivity)
- Primary psychiatric diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety
disorder, or panic disorder
- Currently sedentary (≤60 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week for the past
3 months)
- Able and willing to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Lifetime history of Bipolar I or II or any psychotic disorder
- Meets criteria for bulimia or anorexia in the past 6 months
- Meets criteria for substance use disorder in the past 3 months
- High current suicide risk as indicated by a score of ≥4 on the C-SSRS
- Risk for exercise according to Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire with excluded
medical conditions including heart conditions, lung disease, bone/joint problems, or
seizures
- Women who are currently pregnant or plan to become pregnant during the duration of the
study
- Participation in concurrent evidence-based therapy (e.g., cognitive behavioral
therapy) targeting anxiety or depression (supportive therapy and couples therapy are
allowed)
- Participants on psychiatric medication must be on a stable dose for ≥8 weeks prior to
participation
- Current substance abuse or positive urine toxic screen (recreational use of marijuana
is permitted based on clinical assessment on the MINI that it does not meet criteria
for cannabis use disorder)
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