Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of patients assigned to Physical Exercise (PE) or CBT
| All patients (N = 36) | PE (N = 17) | CBT (N = 19) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | N | % | N | % | N | % |
| Female | 29 | 80.6 | 15 | 88.2 | 14 | 73.7 |
| Marital status (e.g. living alone) | 10 | 27.8 | 7 | 41.2 | 3 | 15.8 |
| Employment 6 months prior to treatment | ||||||
| Full-time employed | 17 | 47.2 | 10 | 58.8 | 7 | 36.8 |
| Part-time employed | 10 | 27.8 | 4 | 23.5 | 6 | 31.6 |
| In rehabilitation or on sick leave | 4 | 11.1 | 1 | 5.9 | 3 | 15.8 |
| Without regular work | 3 | 8.3 | 2 | 11.8 | 1 | 5.3 |
| Student | 2 | 5.6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10.5 |
| Mean | SD | Mean | SD | Mean | SD | |
| Age (years) | 37.9 | 8.6 | 38.1 | 8.6 | 37.8 | 8.9 |
| Years of education | 13.6 | 2.5 | 13.9 | 2.5 | 13.4 | 2.5 |
| Duration of PD | 10.1 | 9.5 | 12.3 | 10.7 | 8.2 | 8.1 |
| Test of physical fitness level (6MWT) | 570.5 | 90.1 | 593.1 | 70.5 | 550.3 | 103.7 |
| Body Mass Index | 26.7 | 5.8 | 26.9 | 6.2 | 26.6 | 5.5 |
| N | % | N | % | N | % | |
| Physical exercisea | 10 | 27.8 | 5 | 29.4 | 5 | 26.3 |
| Medication | ||||||
| SSRIs | 13 | 36.1 | 7 | 41.2 | 6 | 31.6 |
| Benzodiazepinesb | 5 | 13.9 | 3 | 17.6 | 2 | 10.5 |
| Previous treatment for PD | 14 | 38.9 | 6 | 35.3 | 8 | 42.1 |
| Agoraphobia | 29 | 80.6 | 13 | 76.5 | 16 | 84.2 |
| Axis 1 comorbidity | ||||||
| Depression | 14 | 38.9 | 6 | 35.3 | 8 | 42.1 |
| Social phobia | 15 | 41.7 | 8 | 47.1 | 7 | 36.8 |
| Single phobia | 17 | 47.2 | 7 | 41.2 | 10 | 52.6 |
| Generalised Anxiety Disorder | 16 | 44.4 | 8 | 47.1 | 8 | 42.1 |
| Health anxiety | 8 | 22.2 | 5 | 29.4 | 3 | 15.8 |
| Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | 3 | 8.3 | 1 | 5.9 | 2 | 10.5 |
| Mean | SD | Mean | SD | Mean | SD | |
| Number of comorbid axis 1 disorders | 2.1 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 |
| Number of comorbid axis 2 disorders | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
Notes: No significant (p < .05) group differences were found. Both 6MWT and Body Mass Index (BMI) were assessed at pre-treatment. aRefers to ongoing (within last 14 days) level of physical exercise recommended for cardiorespiratory fitness or muscular strength as recommended by ACSM (Pollock et al., 1998).bRefers to the intermittent use of benzodiazepines (Valium, Stesolid, Imovane) within the last month.