Exercise and Therapeutic Exposure

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The proposed project seeks to demonstrate that a brief bout of aerobic exercise can improve a particular type of therapeutic learning among victimins of interpersonal violence with or without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Detailed Description
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The proposed study has one aim: Specific Aim: To examine the effects of acute exercise on the consolidation of therapeutic safety learning. It is hypothesized that participants who engage in 30-min of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise following the first session of imaginal exposure will show larger between-session (visit 2 to 3) reductions in heart rate and anxiety during imaginal exposure to trauma narratives compared to participants who engage in light-intensity exercise.

Official Title
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The Effects of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Therapeutic Safety Learning

Conditions
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PTSD

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Experimental
* Behavioral: Active Control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Experience of interpersonal violence English speaking Medically healthy Exclusion Criteria: Any endorsed medical concerns related to physical activity (as probed in the phone screening questions regarding cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disease and as assessed via the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), which probes into participants' history of heart conditions, chest pain, dizziness, loss of consciousness, bone/joint problems, and medication history). Participants would not be excluded if they report this condition being controlled or addressed through medication or lifestyle change, such as regular exercise. Major medical disorders (such as cancer, AIDS) Psychotic disorders Intellectual disabilities Developmental disorders Active substance use disorders Pregnancy or probably pregnancy Body mass index greater than or equal to 35 Daily cannabis use History of any cardiac disease Inability to provide informed consent Physical disabilities that prohibit task performance (such as deafness or blindness) Self-reported history of loss of consciousness (greater than 30 minutes)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Moderate Intensity Exercise<br>Visit 1: Participants will complete study screening, PTSD assessments, and provide written narrative for a traumatic event and a neutral control event. Visit 2: Participants will complete eight trials of imaginal exposure (blocks of four neutral and four trauma narrative trials presented as text and sound) with heart rate monitoring and skin conductance. Anxiety will be measured at baseline and after each imagery trial. Participants will then complete 30 minutes of moderate intensity (70-75% maximum heart rate) exercise on a treadmill. Visit 3: Participants will complete eight more imaginal trials with heart rate and anxiety ratings as per visit 2. | Behavioral: Experimental<br>* Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Exercise The moderate-intensity aerobic exercise session will consist of walking or running at a moderate intensity (i.e., between 70-75% maximum heart rate) for 30 minutes on a treadmill.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Control - Low Intensity Exercise<br>Visit 1: Participants will complete study screening, PTSD assessments, and provide written narrative for a traumatic event and a neutral control event. Visit 2: Participants will complete eight trials of imaginal exposure (blocks of four neutral and four trauma narrative trials presented as text and sound) with heart rate monitoring and skin conductance. Anxiety will be measured at baseline and after each imagery trial. Participants will then complete 30 minutes of light intensity (40-50% maximum heart rate) exercise on a treadmill. Visit 3: Participants will complete eight more imaginal trials with heart rate and anxiety ratings as per visit 2. | Behavioral: Active Control<br>* Behavioral: Low Intensity Exercise Control participants will maintain light-intensity activity (i.e., walking at 40-50% of maximum heart rate) for 30 minutes.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in participant heart rate | Participant heart rate will be measured at baseline and after each imagery trial using a BIOPAC Bionomadix photo plethysmogram. | 24 hours (visit 2), 48 hours (visit 3) | 
| Change in participant subjective emotional ratings | Participant anxiety will be measured at baseline and after each imagery trial. | 24 hours (visit 2), 48 hours (visit 3) | 
| Change in participant electrodermal response | Participant skin conductance activity will be measured at baseline and during each imagery trial using a pair of BIOPAC Bionomadix electrodermal activity electrodes | 24 hours (visit 2), 48 hours (visit 3) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Trauma, Exercise, Mental Health, Aerobic