Pandemic Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Pan-ACT): Telehealth Delivery With Older Veterans

NCT05433662 | Completed Results

• 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 novel coronavirus (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 60 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

  Retention is defined as number of participants who completed the post-treatment endpoint assessment (numerator) divided by the number of participants who signed informed consent (enrolled; denominator).

  14 weeks

• Feasibility of Study Protocol - Telehealth Capability

  Percent of participants enrolled (i.e., signed consent) who have telehealth capability for duration of intervention.

  14 weeks

• Acceptability of Intervention - Group Attendance

  Percent of participants who started the Pan-ACT intervention (denominator) and attended 70% or more of intervention sessions (numerator)

  14 weeks

Other Outcomes (4)

• Acceptability of Study Protocol - Enrollment

  14 weeks

• Acceptability of Study Protocol - Assessment Completion

  14 weeks

• Feasibility of Study Protocol - Timeline

  Through study completion (approximately 2 years) last session at year 2 reported.

Study Arms (1)

Pandemic Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Pan-ACT)

Open label assignment to Pan-ACT group telehealth intervention.

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 delivered by telehealth platform.

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

Pandemic Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Pan-ACT)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Veterans ages 60 and older receiving services at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center (TVAMC) were 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
• age 60 or older

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 cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) 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

Limitations and Caveats

The study enrollment was negatively impacted by the timing of the study launch, i.e. study recruitment started in 2022 after the COVID-19 pandemic social restrictions had been lifted and pandemic-related fears had been reduced once a COVID-19 vaccine was universally available. This resulted in a small sample size which is a limitation of the trial. Homework adherence could not be collected, so is no longer included as an outcome of the study.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: M. Lindsey Jacobs, PhD
• Organization: University of Alabama

jacob008@ua.edu

205-348-0629

Study Officials

• Lori L Davis, MD

  Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

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: December 20, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2024
• Study Completion: January 23, 2025
• Last Updated: July 22, 2026
• Results First Posted: July 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)