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Exercise and Emotional Learning in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Sponsor: Christal L Badour • ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06127342

Registry updated: 2026-09-16

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Description

The goal of this clinical trial is to test how exercise affects learning and memory processes relevant to the treatment of PTSD. Participants will complete a baseline intake followed by two experimental sessions. During the first experimental session, participants will undergo an MRI session of imaginal exposure to traumatic memory cues followed by 30-minutes of moderate intensity exercise or low intensity exercise. Participants will complete a second session of imaginal exposure with MRI 24 hours later.

Interventions

Moderate Intensity Exercise (Behavioral)
Participants will wear a heartrate monitor and cycle on a stationary bike at a slow speed for 5 minutes, then slowly cycle on a stationary bike for 30 minutes, then cycle on the stationary bike at a slow speed for 5 minutes.
Low Intensity Exercise (Behavioral)
Participants will wear a heartrate monitor and cycle on a stationary bike at a slow speed for 40 minutes.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults with PTSD related to interpersonal violence Exclusion Criteria: * Active or recent (within the last 3 months) severe substance use disorder(s) * Active or recent (within the last 3 months) suicidal, psychotic, or manic symptoms/ episodes * Significant developmental disabilities * Current daily benzodiazepine or stimulant use with inability to abstain for study sessions * Recent changes in psychiatric medication or trauma focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) (past 4-weeks) * Medical condition(s) that prohibit exercise * History of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with loss of consciousness \> 30 mins * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contraindication(s) * Positive pregnancy test * History of seizure disorder * Spontaneous seizure(s) within the last 3 months

Conditions

PTSD

Locations

University of Kentucky — Lexington, Kentucky, United States
University of Texas — Austin, Texas, United States

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Official Source

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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