Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Aerobic Exercise and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms

ConditionObsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-64
SponsorYale University

About this trial

The purpose of this study is to examine the acute effects of exercise on cognitive flexibility and symptom reactivity. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does moderate intensity physical activity reduce subjective distress, compulsive urges, and intrusions- and increase cognitive flexibility- in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder compared to low-intensity physical activity?

Researchers will compare low- to moderate-intensity exercise to see if moderate physical activity increases cognitive flexibility and reduces symptom reactivity in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Participants will:

Complete self-report surveys, psychiatric interviews, and cognitive tasks.

Be assigned to either a low- or moderate-intensity exercise condition and complete physical activity.

Repeat cognitive and symptom measures following the exercise intervention.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Adults, age 18 to 64 years

Meet diagnostic criteria for OCD (per the DIAMOND)

Stable psychiatric or medication treatment (if ≥4-weeks), or if no active treatment. Psychotropic medications will be reviewed with the study psychiatrist on a case by case basis.

Disqualifiers

Active or unmanaged psychotic disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, bipolar disorder, current substance use disorder (moderate-to-severe), or high risk for suicide (defined as attempt, plan, or intent within past 3 months)

Documented motor impairments and medical condition(s) that prohibit physical exercise

Those who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Moderate-Intensity Exercise

    Behavioral

    Participants will engage in 20 minutes of cycling at approximately 70% max heart rate with a 2.5 minute warm up and a 2.5 minute cool down.

  • Low-Intensity Exercise

    Behavioral

    Participants will engage in 20 minutes of cycling at approximately 40-50% max heart rate with a 2.5 minute warm up and a 2.5 minute cool down.

Treatment groups

50 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Moderate-Intensity ExerciseExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Low-Intensity ExerciseOther 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Cognitive flexibility will be assessed using a probabilistic reversal learning (PRL) task called the Lucky Picture Selection Game.

Time frame
Cognitive flexibility will be initially measured on day 1. Follow-up administrations will be completed 7-10 days later after the exercise intervention during session 2.
2

Symptom reactivity will be assessed using the Braga Obsessive Compulsive Symptom Image Set (BOCI).

Time frame
Symptom reactivity will be initially measured on day 1. Follow-up administrations will be completed 7-10 days later after the exercise intervention during session 2.
3

Exercise intensity will be measured using a PolarTech chest-strap HR monitor.

Exercise intensity will be measured as a function of maximum heart rate (70% Max HR for moderate intensity condition and 40-50% max heart rate for low intensity condition).

Time frame
Exercise intensity will be measured during 7-10 days after baseline, during session 2.

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Yale University

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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