ACT for Individuals With MNCD and Their Care Partners

NCT07239609 | Not Yet Recruiting Phase 1 DMC

• 1 other identifier: TexasTechU7
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This project aims to implement and evaluate a dyadic intervention (i.e., acceptance commitment therapy) for persons with AD/ADRD and their care partners. We hypothesize the intervention will be feasible, acceptable, and show preliminary efficacy of the dyadic interveniotns.

Conditions

Depression in Adults; Anxiety Disorder Generalized; Grief

Keywords

Mild Cognitive Impariment; Mild Neurocognitive Disorder; Dyadic intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Patient Health Questionnaire-9

  PHQ-9 is used to assess the presence and severity of depressive symptoms.

  6 weeks

• Geriatric Depression Short From

  GDS short is a brief, self-report screening tool designed to identify depressive symptoms in older adults.

  6 Weeks

• The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7

  GAD-7 is used to assess the severity of generalized anxiety symptoms

  6 weeks

• General Anxiety Scale-10

  The GAS-10 is designed to assess the severity of general anxiety symptoms

  6 Weeks

• Pre-death grief-12

  The PG-12 examines pre-death grief for persons with life limiting illnesses and their care partners.

  6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Dyadic Coping Inventory

  6 Weeks

• Short Form Health Survey (SF-12)

  6 Weeks

• Purpose in Life Scale

  6 Weeks

• Herth Hope Index

  6 Weeks

• Inclusion of Other in the Self Scale

  6 Weeks

Study Arms (1)

Acceptance Commitment Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that aims to enhance psychological flexibility through six core processes: acceptance, cognitive defusion, being present, self-as-context, values clarification, and committed action. Rather than attempting to eliminate difficult thoughts and feelings, ACT encourages individuals to accept them while committing to behavior changes consistent with their personal values.

Behavioral: Acceptance Commitment Therapy

Interventions

Acceptance Commitment Therapy BEHAVIORAL

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that aims to enhance psychological flexibility through six core processes: acceptance, cognitive defusion, being present, self-as-context, values clarification, and committed action. Rather than attempting to eliminate difficult thoughts and feelings, ACT encourages individuals to accept them while committing to behavior changes consistent with their personal values.

Acceptance Commitment Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• MMSE= 21-27
• Able to communicate in English
• Identifies as a care partner of a person with MNCD
• Able to communicate in English
• MMSE= 28-30
• Is a family member or friend of the person with MNCD

You may not qualify if:

• Currently in an intervention for reducing anxiety or depression related to their dementia
• MMSE= 28+ or less than 21
• MMSE= \<28
• Is a formal (paid) caregiver

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Texas Tech University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Neurocognitive Disorders

Interventions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 16, 2025
• First Posted: November 20, 2025
• Study Start: January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Last Updated: November 20, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share