Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Exercise for Older Adults With Chronic Pain

NCT05528536 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: EA200132
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 163
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this trial is to learn if combining Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and exercise works to reduce pain intensity, pain interference, and depressive symptoms in older adults with chronic pain and depressive symptoms. Researchers will compare ACT + exercise intervention (ACEx) to ACT + art intervention (Art+Ex) and usual care to see if ACT + exercise intervention works to reduce pain intensity, pain interference, and depressive symptoms. Participants will receive ACEx program, Art+Ex program, or usual care for 8 weeks and complete tests before and after the programs.

Conditions

Chronic Pain; Older Adults; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Exercise; Psychosocial Intervention; Art

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change from baseline pain intensity and interference at 8 weeks

  Brief pain inventory (BPI) is used to measure pain intensity and interference, it is a 11 items scale, using an 11-point rating, of which 0 indicates not interference and 10 as interferes completely. The higher the numbers, the greater the pain intensity and pain interference.

  Baseline(T0) and 8 weeks after baseline (T1)

• Change from baseline depression at 8 weeks

  The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is used to measure depression, it is a 9-item instrument, PHQ-9 scores of 5-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20 and above represent mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression. Scores range between 0 and 27.

  Baseline(T0) and 8 weeks after baseline (T1)

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Change from baseline anxiety at 8 weeks

  Baseline(T0) and 8 weeks after baseline (T1)

• Change from baseline psychological flexibility at 8 weeks

  Baseline(T0) and 8 weeks after baseline (T1)

• Change from baseline pain self-efficacy at 8 weeks

  Baseline(T0) and 8 weeks after baseline (T1)

• Change from baseline health-related quality of life at 8 weeks

  Baseline(T0) and 8 weeks after baseline (T1)

• Change from baseline gait speed at 8 weeks

  Baseline(T0) and 8 weeks after baseline (T1)

Other Outcomes (11)

• Pain intensity and interference at 3-month follow up

  20 weeks after baseline (T2)

• Depression at 3-month follow up

  20 weeks after baseline (T2)

• Anxiety at 3-month follow up

  20 weeks after baseline (T2)

Study Arms (3)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

This group receives eight weeks' Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and exercise intervention.

Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Other: Exercise

Art and Exercise

SHAM COMPARATOR

This group receives eight weeks' art workshops (skill-based) and exercise intervention.

Other: Art; Other: Exercise

Treatment as usual

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This group receives treatment as usual in the local community setting.

Other: Treatment as usual

Interventions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) BEHAVIORAL

A two-hour ACT will focus on enhancing participant's psychological flexibility towards pain. All sessions will be delivered face-to-face within their local community centre.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exercise

Art OTHER

To be comparable with the experimental group, the Art session will be a two-hour long session which aims to share different art techniques, without any active components. All sessions will be delivered face-to-face within their local community centre.

Art and Exercise

Exercise OTHER

An hour of low-to-moderate resistance exercise aims to increase their strength and balance. All sessions will be delivered face-to-face within their local community centre.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exercise; Art and Exercise

Treatment as usual OTHER

treatment as usual within their community centres

Treatment as usual

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• age 60 years or above; and
• have depressive symptoms of mild level or above (PHQ \> 5)
• have chronic pain (\>3 months)
• able to give informed consent to participate

You may not qualify if:

• known history of autism, intellectual disability, schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, or dementia
• have had stroke, fracture, cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular surgery, artery disease, surgery on vertebrae, and knee replacement in the past 6 months
• physical activity prohibited by a medical professional

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead
• The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust: collaborator
• Aberdeen Kai-fong Welfare Association: collaborator
• Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kong: collaborator
• Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Limited: collaborator
• Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association: collaborator
• Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain; Motor Activity

Interventions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; Exercise; Therapeutics

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Reproductive Techniques; Investigative Techniques; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Terry Y.S. Lum, PhD

  Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Gloria Wong, PhD

  School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Henry G. Leong Professor in Social Work and Social Administration; Principal Investigator of the JC JoyAge project

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2022
• First Posted: September 6, 2022
• Study Start: May 15, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2023
• Study Completion: January 19, 2024
• Last Updated: July 14, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)