Exercise and PTSD in Older Veterans

VA Office of Research and Development

Status: Completed

Conditions: Post-traumatic

Treatments: Behavioral: Exercise as an Adjuvant Therapy for Veterans with PTSD

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT02295995

D1316-W

5IK2RX001316-02 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

1IK2RX001316-01A2 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to examine whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms impact adherence to a 12-week physical activity program and whether exercise can help improve PTSD symptoms and health outcomes in older Veterans. Veterans over the age of 60 with PTSD were be recruited to participate in a 12-week physical activity program consisting of aerobic and strengthening activities. 54 participants were randomized to an intervention arm (n=36) or usual care wait-list control (n=18).

Full description

There is substantial evidence that physical inactivity contributes to poorer physical health outcomes in older adults. There is a paucity of work examining physical activity in Veterans with PTSD. Consequently, the efficacy of exercise as a beneficial adjunctive therapy in the treatment for PTSD symptoms and related health sequelae has not been established. Methods: Approximately 50 Veterans 60 years and older with PTSD will be recruited to participate in a 12-week physical activity program consisting of aerobic and strength-training activities. Participants will be randomized to an intervention arm or usual care wait-list control. Outcomes: Changes in physical function, PTSD symptom severity, and aerobic endurance will be assessed between the two study arms. Summary: This pilot trial will extend the investigators' understanding of the physical and psychological benefits of physical activity in Veterans with PTSD. The results from this study will be used to be used to develop a larger, randomized controlled exercise trial for Veterans with PTSD. Once new, effective exercise therapies for Veterans with PTSD are established, we can augment traditional PTSD therapy with exercise therapy to promote the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases common in this vulnerable population.

Enrollment: 54 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Meet diagnostic criteria for current PTSD,
• live within 50 miles of Durham VA Medical Center (VAMC) and have reliable transportation,
• registered for care at the Durham VAMC,
• independently mobile (assistive devices acceptable),
• speak and write fluent conversational English

Exclusion criteria

• Active substance dependence other than nicotine,
• cognitive impairment, uncontrolled psychotic symptoms,
• clinical history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurring within the past 3 months,
• uncontrolled hypertension,
• renal disease or currently receiving dialysis,
• psychotropic medication initiated within 6 weeks prior to enrollment
• proliferative retinopathy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

54 participants in 2 patient groups

Physical Activity

Experimental group

Description:

Participants randomized to this arm will be enrolled in a 12-week physical activity program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exercise as an Adjuvant Therapy for Veterans with PTSD

Usual Care Wait-List

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants randomized to this arm will continue to receive usual care services for PTSD through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for 12 weeks after which time they will be offered the physical activity program for 12 weeks.