Level of Physical Activity and Fear Learning

NCT05203731 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 21-01657
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 54
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The proposed experimental study will be the first to investigate whether exercise vs. sitting enhances consolidation of extinction learning in adults with high AS and anxiety disorders, and the mechanistic pathways of expectancy, affect, and key stress response markers.

Conditions

Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Social Anxiety Disorder; Panic Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Skin Conductance Response (SCR)

  SCR will be computed for each trial by subtracting the mean skin conductance level observed during the last two seconds of context presentation from the maximal skin conductance level reached during CS presentation. All SCR values will be square-root transformed prior to any statistical analyses. To evaluate extinction recall, an extinction retention index (ERI) will be computed for each individual using the following formula: 100 - (mean SCR to the first 4 CS+E trials during recall / maximum SCR reached during conditioning for this same cue) \* 100

  Day 2 Visit

• Heart rate (HR)

  HR will be computed for each trial by collecting Heart rate measurements during the psychophysiological procedures.

  Day 2 Visit

Study Arms (2)

Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants who will be randomized to moderate intensity exercise after extinction (Day 1)

Behavioral: Exercise

Seated group

SHAM COMPARATOR

Participants who will be randomized to sitting after extinction (Day 1)

Behavioral: Sitting

Interventions

Sitting BEHAVIORAL

Sitting will occur for 20 minutes after the emotional learning procedures on Day 1.

Seated group

Exercise BEHAVIORAL

Moderate intensity exercise (typically a brisk walk or light run) will occur for 20 minutes after the emotional learning procedures on Day 1.

Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Males and females ages 18-60
• A primary diagnosis of a DSM-5 anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder)
• Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 score of ≥23 (i.e., high anxiety sensitivity)
• Able and willing to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Lifetime Bipolar Disorder or psychosis
• Past 3 months substance use disorder or eating disorder
• Current PTSD (past PTSD \> 6 months prior to screening is allowed)
• High risk for exercise according to the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire and American College of Sports Medicine guidelines with excluded active medical conditions including heart conditions, lung disease, bone/joint problems, or seizures
• Women who are currently pregnant
• Acute suicide risk (active suicidal ideation with plan and intent) as indicated by a score of ≥4 on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
• Benzodiazepine use
• Current substance abuse or positive urine toxicology screen (recreational use of marijuana is permitted based on clinical assessment on the MINI structured diagnostic interview that it does not meet criteria for cannabis use disorder)
• Stable psychiatric medications for at least 4 weeks prior to experimental procedures

Sponsors & Collaborators

• NYU Langone Health: lead

Study Sites (1)

NYU Langone Health

New York, New York, 10016, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Phobia, Social; Panic Disorder

Interventions

Exercise; Sitting Position

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders; Phobic Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Posture

Study Officials

• Kristin Szuhany, MD

  NYU Langone Health

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 20, 2022
• First Posted: January 24, 2022
• Study Start: January 31, 2023
• Primary Completion: March 19, 2025
• Study Completion: March 19, 2025
• Last Updated: February 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)