Group integrated exercise versus recovery class for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized clinical trial

There are no reported randomized trials testing exercise versus an active comparator for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This randomized clinical trial assessed the effectiveness of group exercise versus psychoeducation to improve quality of life and reduces symptomatic severity in Veterans with PTSD. Veterans who met criteria for current PTSD (DSM-5) and/or endorsed moderate levels of PTSD symptoms (CAPS 5 score ≥ 23) were randomly assigned to treatment. Integrative Exercise (IE) combines fitness exercises (aerobics, resistance training, stretching) with mindful body/breath awareness versus Recovery Class (REC) psychoeducation control condition. A total of 84 participants were enrolled of which 41 participants were randomized to IE and 43 participants to REC. There were no significant pre-post differences in change in the WHOQOL Psychological Domain in either group. There was a modest reduction in the total CAPS-5 score in both groups (IE: -8.2 (9.9), p < .001: REC: -7.8 (2.0), p < .001) but no differences across the two conditions. In the IE subsample that was remote, there was a greater improvement in PTSD symptom severity (F[1, 50] = 4.62, p = .036) and in in the WHOQOL Psychological Domain (F(1, 47) = 6.46, p = .014) in those who attended more sessions. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02856412 (registration date: February 27, 2017).