Exercise-priming of CBT for Depression: the CBT+ Trial

Part of paid clinical trials in Madison, Wisconsin.

Sponsor
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Study ID
NCT07221929
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 65 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Rest — BEHAVIORAL
    30 minutes of rest while watching a nature documentary before cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Aerobic Activity — BEHAVIORAL
    30 minutes of aerobic activity before cognitive behavioral therapy, while watching the same nature documentary the CalmCBT group watches.

Study Details

This study investigates the effects of intentionally sequencing aerobic exercise immediately prior to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to determine its effects on mechanisms of CBT (i.e., working alliance, behavioral activation). To assess the utility of this treatment augmentation, investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial involving 100 adults with Major Depressive Disorder who will watch a nature documentary while either resting quietly ( 'CalmCBT') or exercising at a moderate intensity ('ActiveCBT') immediately prior to 8 weekly sessions of CBT.

Key Dates

Start date
Jan 5, 2026
Status verified
Mar 2026
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2029
Completion
Dec 31, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment
100 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: CalmCBT
    In this arm, participants would complete 30 minutes of rest while watching a nature documentary before cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Experimental: ActiveCBT
    In this arm, participants would complete 30 minutes of aerobic activity before cognitive behavioral therapy, while watching the same nature documentary the CalmCBT group watches.

Primary Outcome Measure

Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) - Bond subscale [ Time Frame: data collected at each CBT session (weeks 1-8) ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
University of WisconsinMadisonWisconsin53792-

Find similar trials in Madison, WI

By condition
Depression
By specialty
PsychiatryMental healthBehavioral health
By research site
University of Wisconsin· Madison, WI

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