Front Psychiatry

Brief vigorous workouts reduce panic symptoms more than relaxation therapy

February 9, 2026

In a randomized, assessor‑blinded trial (NCT06073691) of 72 sedentary adults with panic disorder, a 12‑week brief intermittent intense exercise (BIE) program was compared with Jacobson’s relaxation training (RT). Both groups improved, but BIE showed greater reductions in Panic Agoraphobia Scale scores over 12 and 24 weeks. At week 12, mean scores were lower with BIE than RT (14.9 vs. 23.1), and this difference persisted at follow‑up. BIE participants also had fewer panic attacks and lower depressive symptoms at week 24. The study found BIE feasible and more effective than RT for reducing panic severity and attack frequency.

Clinical takeaway: Consider offering structured intense exercise as an interoceptive exposure option for patients with panic disorder.

Source:

(2026, February 9). Front Psychiatry. Brief intermittent intense exercise as interoceptive exposure for panic disorder: a randomized controlled clinical trial. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1739639/full