Trial results for a study investigating exercise training for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in older veterans were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-03-25. The exercise group showed a mean reduction of 4.96 units on the CAPS-5 scale, compared to 2.5 units in the control group, with 80 participants enrolled.
Background
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent condition among military Veterans, extending beyond psychological symptoms to significantly impact health, function, and quality of life. Older Veterans represent the largest patient population served by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), with many having lived with PTSD for over 40 years. This population often exhibits low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behavior, which further contributes to their risk of physical disability. The well-documented benefits of exercise on both mental health and physical well-being in older adults suggest its potential as an intervention for this specific demographic.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 80 participants to investigate Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. The trial examined the effects of exercise training in older veterans. Participants were assigned to either an exercise group or a Healthy Aging Attention Control group, with outcomes measured at 6 months.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements comparing the exercise group to the Healthy Aging Attention Control group over 6 months:
- Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-V (CAPS-5) Change Baseline to 6 Months (units on a scale):
- Exercise group: Mean change of -4.96 (Standard Deviation 10.1).
- Healthy Aging Attention Control group: Mean change of -2.5 (Standard Deviation 9.0).
- Six-minute Walk Test Change From Baseline to 6 Months (Meters):
- Exercise group: Mean change of 48.8 (Standard Deviation 94.6).
- Healthy Aging Attention Control group: Mean change of 29.3 (Standard Deviation 77.4).
- Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) Change From Baseline to 6 Months (units on a scale):
- Exercise group: Mean change of -2.0 (Standard Deviation 4.6).
- Healthy Aging Attention Control group: Mean change of 0.3 (Standard Deviation 5.1).
- Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Change From Baseline to 6 Months (units on a scale):
- Exercise group: Mean change of -2.8 (Standard Deviation 2.8).
- Healthy Aging Attention Control group: Mean change of -1.0 (Standard Deviation 2.8).
What this means
The results indicate that exercise training in older veterans with PTSD led to greater improvements across several key health domains compared to an attention control. Participants in the exercise group experienced a larger reduction in PTSD symptoms as measured by CAPS-5, improved physical function shown by the Six-minute Walk Test, and greater reductions in depression symptoms (PHQ-9) and sleep disturbances (PSQI). These findings suggest that incorporating exercise training could be a valuable non-pharmacological strategy to improve mental and physical well-being in this vulnerable population.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT04199182, titled "Exercise Training to Improve PTSD Symptoms and Health in Older Veterans", were posted on 2026-03-25 on clinicaltrials.gov.