Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42252717›Full record

ArticleBJPsych open2026

Exercise Therapy to Reduce Anxiety (ExTRA) in mid-life and later-life adults: pilot feasibility study.

Terence W H Chong, Andi Partovi, Julia McCurry, Eleanor Curran, David Ames, Kaarin J Anstey, Alex Bahar-Fuchs, Christina Bryant, Kay L Cox, Samantha M Loi and 3 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BJPsych open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Terence W H ChongDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/01ej9dk98The University of Melbourne, Kew, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2432-8193
Andi PartoviDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
Julia McCurryMental Health and Addiction Medicine Program, https://ror.org/001kjn539St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Kew, Australia.
Eleanor CurranDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/01ej9dk98The University of Melbourne, Kew, Australia.
David AmesDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/01ej9dk98The University of Melbourne, Kew, Australia.
Kaarin J AnsteySchool of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Alex Bahar-FuchsSEED Lifespan, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia.
Christina BryantMelbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
Kay L CoxMedical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Samantha M LoiDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/01ej9dk98The University of Melbourne, Kew, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4953-4500
Jenny SouthamDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/01ej9dk98The University of Melbourne, Kew, Australia.
Alissa WestphalDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/01ej9dk98The University of Melbourne, Kew, Australia.
Nicola T LautenschlagerDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/01ej9dk98The University of Melbourne, Kew, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAnxiety is the most prevalent mental health condition, causing significant distress, disability and cost.

aimsThis pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of an eight-week self-directed online exercise intervention, supported by wearable activity monitors (WAMs), for mid-life and later-life adults with clinically significant anxiety, and provided preliminary estimates of effectiveness.

methodThe Exercise Therapy to Reduce Anxiety (ExTRA) project recruited 21 participants aged 40-77 years with Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) anxiety scores >7. The ExTRA online platform integrated with the WAMs, and provided information about anxiety, exercise programmes and strategies to help meet national physical activity guidelines, overcome barriers and set goals.

resultsExTRA was feasible, with a 63% recruitment rate and 100% retention rate. Overall, evaluation questionnaire responses demonstrated high acceptability. At week 8, WAM average steps/day increased by 1358 (

conclusionsThe ExTRA intervention is feasible and acceptable, with positive signals for increasing objectively measured physical activity and improving mental health. Findings support and inform the design of randomised controlled trials to assess efficacy of this potentially automated and scalable intervention.

Indexed as

Anxietyexercisemid-lifeolder adultstechnology

Identifiers

PMID42252717
PMCPMC13247835

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.