Physical Activity and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Panic Disorder

Charité University Medicine Berlin

Status: Completed

Conditions: Panic Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01788800

221012

Details and patient eligibility

About

Physical activity (treadmill) supports the effect of cognitive behavioural therapy in patients with panic disorder with/without agoraphobia

Full description

Patients undergo cognitive behavioural therapy consisting of 8 group sessions within 1 month. All patients additionally complete a training of physical activity, which starts simultaneously to therapy and runs for 8 weeks (3 times/week, 30 minutes each). Half of the patients complete training on a treadmill while the other half completes a training programme of low intensity physical activity without cardiovascular activation.

Flanking EEG (electroencephalogram) recordings shall help clarify biological processes underlying the therapeutical process.

Enrollment: 46 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Subject familiarized with experimental procedure and had given written informed consent
2. Diagnosis of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV)
3. Sufficiently able to communicate with investigator, answer questions and fill in questionnaires
4. Reachability of patient for treatment and follow-up

Exclusion criteria

1. Other psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia, substance abuse or severe depressive episode
2. Acute suicidal tendency
3. Epilepsy or other illness of the central nervous system (e.g. brain tumor, encephalitis)
4. Existence of contraindication against physical exercise
5. Pregnancy or breastfeeding
6. Changes of psychopharmacological treatment within the last 4 weeks

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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46 participants in 2 patient groups

Exercise training

Experimental group

Description:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) + Exercise training 3 times/week, 30 minutes on a treadmill, 70% maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), 8 weeks

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Movements

Active Comparator group

Description:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) + Low intensity physical activity without cardiovascular activation, 3 times/week, 30 minutes, 8 weeks

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)