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- Sirivåg, K, et al.
(författare)
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Physical EXercise Augmented COGnitive Behaviour Therapy for Older Adults with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (PEXACOG)
- 2016
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most prevalent severe anxiety disorder among older adults. The disorder has a pervasive influence on the lives of those affected, and is a risk factor for other severe disorders such as depression, dementia and coronary heart disease. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is the treatment of choice for this disorder, but older adults have shown reduced effect of treatment compared to working age adults. Physical exercise has been suggested as intervention to improve the effects of treatment for GAD, via its demonstrated positive effect on cognitive functioning, increased plasticity in the brain, and increased availability of neurotrophins important for extinction of fear associations. The aim of the current research project is to investigate whether augmenting CBT with physical exercise will lead to improved effects of CBT on GAD in older adults in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Participants between 60-75 years of age with a primary diagnosis of GAD will be randomised to one of two treatment conditions. The effects of treatment will be assessed on outcome measures, biological, physiological and cognitive measures at pre- interim-, and post-treatment, and follow-up assessments at 6- and 12-months post intervention. Participants in both groups will receive five weeks of pre-treatment intervention consisting of either physical exercise or weekly telephone contact. Participants thereafter receive either ten weeks of manualised CBT for GAD combined with manualised physical exercise or ten weeks of manualised CBT for GAD combined with weekly telephone contact. We expect that the treatment effect of the physical exercise augmented CBT will be greater than that of CBT combined with weekly telephone contact, as measured by a reduction in GAD symptoms on the Penn State Worry Questionnaire and in the proportion of remitted patients. The study also aims to determining the possible beneficial and augmenting properties of physical exercise in combination with CBT, and our understanding of clinical characteristics of GAD and mechanisms involved in treatment effect. Treatment rationale, procedures and protocols will be presented in detail together with preliminary results from the initial feasibility study comprises eight participants.
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