Telehealth Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Older Veterans Experiencing Pandemic-Related Stress

NCT05433662 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: D3898-P1I21RX003898-01A1
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Older adults have been disproportionately impacted and distressed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders have increased older adults' risk of social isolation and loneliness that will has led to a pandemic-induced fear of being in close proximity to other people. These fears and avoidant behaviors will have lasting effects if not treated with effective, safe, and convenient psychological interventions. This study will evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of delivering a small group intervention, called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), through a telehealth modality to Veterans ages 65 and older who are experiencing pandemic-related emotional and physical distress. ACT helps decrease emotional suffering, improve well-being and promote positive behavior change by increasing one's psychological flexibility through the practice of mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based behaviors. The knowledge gained from this study will be used to better tailor the invention to meet the needs of older Veterans in an era of post-pandemic recovery.

Conditions

Psychological Stress

Keywords

Older adult; acceptance and commitment therapy; telehealth; pandemic

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Acceptability of study protocol - retention

  Rate of study completion

  Through study completion, approximately 2 years

• Feasibility of study protocol - telehealth

  Percent of participants who have telehealth capability for duration of intervention

  Through study completion, approximately 2 years

• Acceptability of intervention - group attendance

  Percent of participants who attend 70% or more of intervention sessions

  Through study completion, approximately 2 years

Other Outcomes (5)

• Acceptability of study protocol - enrollment

  Throughout active enrollment period, approximately 1.5 years

• Acceptability of study protocol - assessment completion

  Through study completion, approximately 2 years

• Feasibility of study protocol - timeline

  Through study completion, approximately 2 years

Study Arms (1)

Veterans

Veterans will be ages 65 and older, cognitively intact, and experiencing pandemic-related stress.

Behavioral: Pandemic Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Pan-ACT)

Interventions

Pandemic Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Pan-ACT) BEHAVIORAL

Pan-ACT is a 10-session, closed group, transdiagnostic intervention for older adults.

Also known as: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); ACT for Older Adults; The Third ACT

Veterans

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Veterans ages 50 and older receiving services at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center (TVAMC) will be recruited from primary care, home-based primary care, and mental health clinics.

You may qualify if:

• Veteran
• receives care at Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center
• score of 9 or greater on the COVID-19 Mental Health Impacts Scale
• English speaking
• provides written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• diagnosis of dementia
• score of 31 or less on the Modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status
• actively suicidal or homicidal
• actively psychotic
• unstable medical condition
• active substance use disorder
• currently participating in another CBT-based intervention

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Office of Research and Development: lead
• University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35404-5015, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological

Interventions

Aging

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Growth and Development; Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Lori Lynne Davis, MD AB

  Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: FED
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 21, 2022
• First Posted: June 27, 2022
• Study Start: June 15, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2024
• Study Completion: January 23, 2025
• Last Updated: January 27, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)