©2024 Stanford Medicine
Anxiety in Older Veterans
Not Recruiting
Trial ID: NCT02400723
Purpose
Anxiety leads to poor quality of life, avoidance of activities, decreased social engagement,
functional decline, and disability in older patients. This study will compare two
self-directed treatments delivered via Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) videos that can be viewed
in one's own home. The two treatments being compared are: psychoeducation, which refers to
information and education about anxiety, and a behavioral treatment program, called BREATHE
(Breathing, Relaxation and Education for Anxiety Treatment in the Home Environment). BREATHE
teaches diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscle relaxation. Participants will be
randomly assigned to either treatment. The study is 12 weeks long. There are 4 weeks of
treatment via DVD and 8 weeks of follow-up. Participants will be asked questions about
anxiety symptoms, mood, health and functioning.
Official Title
Reducing Anxiety and Improving Functioning in Older Veterans
Stanford Investigator(s)
Christine E. Gould
Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Veterans aged 60 years or older.
- Meets criteria for an anxiety disorder (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety
Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Anxiety Disorder Unspecified, Anxiety Disorder
Other Specified).
- English-speaking.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of dementia or significant cognitive impairment as determined by a brief
cognitive screen.
- Diagnosis of serious mental illness (bipolar disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia),
- taking benzodiazepines more than once a week per self report.
Intervention(s):
behavioral: Progressive Muscle Relaxation
behavioral: Diaphragmatic Breathing
other: Psychoeducation (Placebo)
Not Recruiting
Contact Information
Stanford University
School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford,
CA
94305
Christine E Gould, PhD