Relaxation Treatment for Anxiety in Adults Aged 60 or Older (BREATHE)

Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research

Status: Completed

Conditions: Anxiety Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Progressive Muscle Relaxation; Behavioral: Diaphragmatic Breathing

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT02429778

22277 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

GOU0001APR

Details and patient eligibility

About

The PI developed a self-directed program to treat late-life anxiety called Breathing, Relaxation, and Education for Anxiety Treatment in the Home Environment (BREATHE). This program consists of weekly video lessons that participants watch on digital video disc (DVD) along with weekly telephone check-ins. In BREATHE participants will learn two behavioral interventions: diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). The purpose of the study is to examine whether the self-directed BREATHE program is superior to a wait list control in reducing anxiety in older adults with anxiety disorders. For those assigned to wait list control, they will be offered opportunity to participate in BREATHE treatment after 8 weeks of wait list.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participants have a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, specifically, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Anxiety Disorder or Anxiety Disorder Unspecified/Other Specified).
• Participants speak English.

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of Dementia
• Probable presence of significant cognitive impairment according to a brief cognitive screen
• Serious mental illness (schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar disorder)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

BREATHE

Experimental group

Description:

4 weeks DVD-delivered relaxation intervention program called breathe. The experimental intervention includes progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, and home practice of the skills. Following the 4 weeks of treatment, participants will be asked to continue to practice at home for 4 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Diaphragmatic Breathing

Behavioral: Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Wait List

No Intervention group

Description:

8 week wait list period. Participants assigned to wait list will have the opportunity to receive BREATHE arm after 8 weeks if interested.