Exercise augmentation compared with usual care for post-traumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled trial.

Area of Science:

• Clinical Psychology
• Exercise Science
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly impacts mental health and quality of life.
• Current treatments for PTSD include psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, but some patients do not respond adequately.
• The role of physical activity in managing PTSD symptoms requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a 12-week exercise program combined with usual care for individuals diagnosed with PTSD.
• To assess the impact of exercise on PTSD symptom severity, depressive symptoms, anthropometric measures, physical activity levels, mobility, strength, and sleep quality.

Main Methods:

• An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial involving 81 participants with primary PTSD.
• Participants were assigned to either usual care or usual care plus a 12-week exercise intervention (resistance training and walking).
• Primary outcome was measured using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C); secondary outcomes included depression, anthropometry, physical activity, mobility, strength, and sleep quality.

Main Results:

• The exercise intervention group showed a statistically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms compared to the usual care group (mean difference = -5.4, P=0.04).
• Significant improvements were observed in the intervention group for depressive symptoms, waist circumference, sleep quality, and reduced sedentary time.
• The study included 81 participants (84% male) with a mean age of 47.8 years.

Conclusions:

• Exercise interventions, in addition to usual care, demonstrate a positive association with reduced PTSD and depressive symptoms.
• The findings suggest that exercise can lead to improvements in sleep quality and body composition (reduced waist circumference) in individuals with PTSD.
• This study provides initial evidence supporting the integration of exercise into treatment plans for post-traumatic stress disorder.