Promoting walking as an adjunct intervention to group cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders—A pilot group randomized trial

A group randomized trial of adding a home-based walking program to a standard group cognitive behavioral therapy (GCBT + EX) was compared with groups receiving GCBT and educational sessions (GCBT + ED). The study was implemented in an outpatient clinic providing GCBT for clients diagnosed with panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or social phobia. Pre- and post-treatment measures included the self-report depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) and measures of physical activity. From January 2004 to May 2005, six groups were allocated to GCBT + EX (n = 38) and five to GCBT + ED (n = 36). Analysis of covariance for completed cases (GCBT + EX, n = 21; GCBT + ED, n = 20), adjusting for the group design, baseline DASS-21 scores, and anxiety diagnosis showed significant effect for GCBT + EX on depression, anxiety, and stress (regression coefficients = −6.21, −3.41, and −5.14, respectively, p < 0.05) compared to the GCBT + ED. The potential of exercise interventions as adjunct to GCBT for anxiety disorder needs to be further explored.