Cardiorespiratory fitness, trait anxiety, and physical activity in people with multiple sclerosis who have subclinical generalized anxiety disorder.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is prevalent, yet understudied and poorly managed among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Aerobic exercise may manage symptoms of GAD by improving cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in MS. We examined the association among CRF, trait anxiety, GAD symptoms, and physical activity in a sample with MS prescreened for subclinical GAD. CRF was moderately associated with trait anxiety, but not GAD symptoms. Research should further interrogate the associations in larger samples with MS and GAD.