Exercise/Behavior Therapy Study

The Exercise/Behavior Therapy Study focused on reducing Gulf War veterans' symptoms of pain, fatigue, and problems with memory and concentration. The study measured the effectiveness of two treatments, exercise and a therapy called cognitive-behavior therapy, for Gulf War Illness. Cognitive-behavior therapy teaches participants active coping techniques for reducing the severity of their symptoms. This therapy is often used to enhance other medical treatments for illnesses including asthma, cancer, coronary artery disease, and other conditions involving pain and fatigue. Cognitive-behavior therapy is also used by top athletes to improve performance. The exercise component of the study involved working closely with our exercise physiologist, Ryan Clancy, who helps design a unique aerobic exercise program for each individual veteran. Veterans who enrolled in the study received either: 1) exercise therapy, 2) cognitive-behavior therapy, 3) a combination of these two treatments, or 4) usual and customary medical care. Gulf War veterans who served in the Gulf region at any time between August, 1990 and August, 1991 and suffered from pain, fatigue, or problems with memory or concentration were eligible to participate. This study was completed in 2001 and the results are currently being compiled and analyzed.