Trial Outcomes & Findings for Relaxation Treatment for Anxiety in Adults Aged 60 or Older (NCT NCT02429778)

NCT ID: NCT02429778

Last Updated: 2020-01-27

Results Overview

The Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) is a 30-item measure of somatic, cognitive, and affective symptoms of anxiety. The first 25 items of the measure are used to compute the total score; the last 5 items provide information about the content of worries or fears. Total scores range from 0 to 75 with higher scores indicating worse anxiety. Participants provide severity ratings for items using on a four-point Likert-type scale.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

40 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Change from baseline to 8 weeks

Results posted on

2020-01-27

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
BREATHE
4 weeks DVD-delivered relaxation intervention program called breathe. The experimental intervention includes progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, and home practice of the skills. Following the 4 weeks of treatment, participants will be asked to continue to practice at home for 4 weeks. Diaphragmatic Breathing: Deep or diaphragmatic breathing is taught prior to relaxation. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tensing and releasing muscle groups in a specified order to help reduce tension and anxiety.
Wait List
8 week wait list period. Participants assigned to wait list will have the opportunity to receive BREATHE arm after 8 weeks if interested.
Overall Study
STARTED
20
20
Overall Study
COMPLETED
13
20
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
7
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
BREATHE
4 weeks DVD-delivered relaxation intervention program called breathe. The experimental intervention includes progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, and home practice of the skills. Following the 4 weeks of treatment, participants will be asked to continue to practice at home for 4 weeks. Diaphragmatic Breathing: Deep or diaphragmatic breathing is taught prior to relaxation. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tensing and releasing muscle groups in a specified order to help reduce tension and anxiety.
Wait List
8 week wait list period. Participants assigned to wait list will have the opportunity to receive BREATHE arm after 8 weeks if interested.
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
2
0
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
5
0

Baseline Characteristics

Relaxation Treatment for Anxiety in Adults Aged 60 or Older

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
BREATHE
n=20 Participants
4 weeks DVD-delivered relaxation intervention program called breathe. The experimental intervention includes progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, and home practice of the skills. Following the 4 weeks of treatment, participants will be asked to continue to practice at home for 4 weeks. Diaphragmatic Breathing: Deep or diaphragmatic breathing is taught prior to relaxation. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tensing and releasing muscle groups in a specified order to help reduce tension and anxiety.
Wait List
n=20 Participants
8 week wait list period. Participants assigned to wait list will have the opportunity to receive BREATHE arm after 8 weeks if interested.
Total
n=40 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Geriatric Anxiety Scale
20.85 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.38 • n=5 Participants
22.90 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.98 • n=7 Participants
21.88 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.70 • n=5 Participants
Somatic Symptom Scale 8-item
9.50 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.74 • n=5 Participants
8.80 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.63 • n=7 Participants
9.15 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.15 • n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
68.40 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.77 • n=5 Participants
69.45 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.61 • n=7 Participants
68.93 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.13 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
11 Participants
n=5 Participants
13 Participants
n=7 Participants
24 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
7 Participants
n=7 Participants
16 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity · Asian
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity · White/Non-Hispanic
14 Participants
n=5 Participants
14 Participants
n=7 Participants
28 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity · White/Hispanic
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity · Other
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
20 participants
n=5 Participants
20 participants
n=7 Participants
40 participants
n=5 Participants
Patients Health Questionnaire 9-item
8.40 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.55 • n=5 Participants
6.80 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.48 • n=7 Participants
7.60 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.50 • n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

Population: A linear mixed effects model using maximum likelihood modeling was employed to analyze these data using intent-to-treat principles.

The Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) is a 30-item measure of somatic, cognitive, and affective symptoms of anxiety. The first 25 items of the measure are used to compute the total score; the last 5 items provide information about the content of worries or fears. Total scores range from 0 to 75 with higher scores indicating worse anxiety. Participants provide severity ratings for items using on a four-point Likert-type scale.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
BREATHE
n=20 Participants
4 weeks DVD-delivered relaxation intervention program called breathe. The experimental intervention includes progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, and home practice of the skills. Following the 4 weeks of treatment, participants will be asked to continue to practice at home for 4 weeks. Diaphragmatic Breathing: Deep or diaphragmatic breathing is taught prior to relaxation. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tensing and releasing muscle groups in a specified order to help reduce tension and anxiety.
Wait List
n=20 Participants
8 week wait list period. Participants assigned to wait list will have the opportunity to receive BREATHE arm after 8 weeks if interested.
Change in Anxiety Symptoms
17.95 score on a scale
Standard Error 2.34
26.2 score on a scale
Standard Error 2.14

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

Population: A linear mixed effects model using maximum likelihood modeling was employed to analyze these data using intent-to-treat principles.

The Activity Card Sort contains 80 photographs that depict the performance of instrumental activities, low-physical-demand leisure activities, high-physical-demand leisure activities, and social activities. This measure will be used to assess engagement in activities. The score reported is the lifestyle-adjusted function score. It represents the percentage of activities ever completed that are perceived to be easy. Higher scores indicate greater ease of activity completion/engagement.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
BREATHE
n=20 Participants
4 weeks DVD-delivered relaxation intervention program called breathe. The experimental intervention includes progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, and home practice of the skills. Following the 4 weeks of treatment, participants will be asked to continue to practice at home for 4 weeks. Diaphragmatic Breathing: Deep or diaphragmatic breathing is taught prior to relaxation. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tensing and releasing muscle groups in a specified order to help reduce tension and anxiety.
Wait List
n=19 Participants
8 week wait list period. Participants assigned to wait list will have the opportunity to receive BREATHE arm after 8 weeks if interested.
Change in Activity Engagement
Baseline
49.97 units on a scale
Standard Error 3.04
50.15 units on a scale
Standard Error 2.83
Change in Activity Engagement
8 weeks
54.97 units on a scale
Standard Error 3.57
48.23 units on a scale
Standard Error 3.51

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

Population: A linear mixed effects model using maximum likelihood modeling was employed to analyze these data using intent-to-treat principles.

The Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9) is a 9-item depression assessment rated on a four-point Likert-type scale with scores ranging from 0 to 27. It includes one item that inquires about suicide ideation. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms. Validity and reliability have been established with primary care patients.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
BREATHE
n=20 Participants
4 weeks DVD-delivered relaxation intervention program called breathe. The experimental intervention includes progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, and home practice of the skills. Following the 4 weeks of treatment, participants will be asked to continue to practice at home for 4 weeks. Diaphragmatic Breathing: Deep or diaphragmatic breathing is taught prior to relaxation. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tensing and releasing muscle groups in a specified order to help reduce tension and anxiety.
Wait List
n=20 Participants
8 week wait list period. Participants assigned to wait list will have the opportunity to receive BREATHE arm after 8 weeks if interested.
Change in Depressive Symptoms
Baseline
8.40 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.24
6.80 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.23
Change in Depressive Symptoms
8 weeks
5.71 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.58
8.6 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.19

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

Population: A linear mixed effects model using maximum likelihood modeling was employed to analyze these data using intent-to-treat principles.

Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS-8). The SSS-8 is an 8-item somatic symptom assessment rated on a five-point Likert-type scale with scores ranging from 0 to 32. The SSS-8 is administered to characterize participants' somatic symptoms. Higher symptoms indicate worse somatic symptom severity.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
BREATHE
n=20 Participants
4 weeks DVD-delivered relaxation intervention program called breathe. The experimental intervention includes progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, and home practice of the skills. Following the 4 weeks of treatment, participants will be asked to continue to practice at home for 4 weeks. Diaphragmatic Breathing: Deep or diaphragmatic breathing is taught prior to relaxation. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tensing and releasing muscle groups in a specified order to help reduce tension and anxiety.
Wait List
n=20 Participants
8 week wait list period. Participants assigned to wait list will have the opportunity to receive BREATHE arm after 8 weeks if interested.
Change in Somatic Symptoms
Baseline
9.50 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.06
8.80 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.26
Change in Somatic Symptoms
8 weeks
6.64 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.07
10.30 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.28

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

Heart rate will be measured at baseline and at 8 weeks after enrollment. This is an exploratory measure.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

Blood pressure will be measured at baseline and at 8 weeks after enrollment. This is an exploratory measure.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

Adverse Events

BREATHE

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Wait List

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Christine Gould, PhD

VA Palo Alto Health Care System

Phone: 650-493-5000

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place