Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a severe and debilitating anxiety disorder that is highly prevalent among older adults. Anxiety and GAD is a well-documented risk factor for the development of other severe conditions such as depression and dementia, and effective treatments are called for. However, recommended treatment for GAD has consistently been found to yield blunted response rates for older adults compared to younger patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of exercise-augmented cognitive behaviour therapy for older adults with GAD. Exercise augmented CBT is expected to yield better results than standard CBT in terms of greater reduction of symptoms and increased rates of remission. The investigators will also investigate the effects of treatment on biological, physiological and neuropsychological measures.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
53
Cognitive behavioural therapy conducted individually. 10 weekly sessions, first session lasts 90 minutes, the remaining sessions last 45 minutes.
Manualised exercise. 15 weekly sessions with instructor, and two weekly unsupervised sessions performed individually.
One follow-up telephone call à 15 minutes each week for 15 weeks. Aims to control for therapist contact in physical exercise condition and total duration of treatment.
Solli DPS
Bergen, Nesttun, Norway
Changes in The Penn State Worry Questionnaire
Assesses symptom severity of GAD
Time frame: Baseline, after pre-treatment (up to 8 weeks after baseline), post-treatment (up to 20 weeks after baseline), 6 months follow-up and 12 months follow-up
Change in clinical diagnosis after treatment assessed by independent, blinded rater with Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (ADIS-IV)
Remission rates. Assessed by independent, blinded rater with Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (ADIS-IV)
Time frame: Baseline and post-treatment (up to 20 weeks after baseline)
Geriatric Anxiety Inventory
Time frame: Baseline, after pre-treatment (up to 8 weeks after baseline), post-treatment (up to 20 weeks after baseline), 6 months follow-up and 12 months follow-up
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7)
Time frame: Baseline, after pre-treatment (up to 8 weeks after baseline), post-treatment (up to 20 weeks after baseline), 6 months follow-up and 12 months follow-up
Beck Anxiety Inventory
Time frame: Baseline, after pre-treatment (up to 8 weeks after baseline), post-treatment (up to 20 weeks after baseline), 6 months follow-up and 12 months follow-up
Beck Depression Inventory - II
Time frame: Baseline, after pre-treatment (up to 8 weeks after baseline), post-treatment (up to 20 weeks after baseline), 6 months follow-up and 12 months follow-up
Bergen Insomnia Scale
Time frame: Baseline, after pre-treatment (up to 8 weeks after baseline), post-treatment (up to 20 weeks after baseline), 6 months follow-up and 12 months follow-up
Quality of Life Inventory
Time frame: Baseline, after pre-treatment (up to 8 weeks after baseline), post-treatment (up to 20 weeks after baseline), 6 months follow-up and 12 months follow-up
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
Time frame: Baseline, after pre-treatment (up to 8 weeks after baseline), post-treatment (up to 20 weeks after baseline), 6 months follow-up and 12 months follow-up
5-item Treatment Credibility and Expectancy Scale (CES)
Time frame: Baseline
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