Instant Message-delivered Personalised Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Persons With Mild Cognitive Impairment

NCT07332624 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: iact2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This pilot study aims to develop an automated instant message-delivered intervention (i.e., EMI) for people with mild cognitive impairment, and to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention.

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Keywords

mild cognitive impairment; acceptance and commitment therapy; neuropsychiatric symptoms

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• MBI-C scores

  The primary outcome will be MBI-C scores to assess NPSs. A higher MBI-C scores will indicate a higher level of neuropsychiatric symptoms.

  8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Depressive symptoms (PHQ-9)

  8 weeks

• Anxiety symptoms (GAD-7)

  8 weeks

• Cognitive functions (HK-MoCA)

  8 weeks

• Acceptance of negative emotions and valued-based actions (AAQ-II)

  8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in intervention group will receive the EMI for 8 weeks. Based on the steps of mobile message development recommended by Abroms, et al., our team will develop an ACT message content library and protocol for IM delivery (i.e. EMI).

Behavioral: Automated instant message-guided neuropsychiatric symptoms management

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

The control group will receive instant messages about general mental health management from the HKSAR Government website, which is open to the public (https://www.shallwetalk.hk/en/mental-well-being/mental-well-being-is-related-to-you/), with reminder text messages of follow-up surveys.

Interventions

Automated instant message-guided neuropsychiatric symptoms management BEHAVIORAL

Participants in intervention group will receive the EMI for 8 weeks. Based on the steps of mobile message development recommended by Abroms, et al., we will develop a message content library and protocol for EMI delivery.

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 50 years; HK-MoCA score range from 18 to 25; MBI-C ≥7; Able to read and communicate in Chinese (Cantonese or Putonghua); Able to use the text or voice messaging function on a smartphone.

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosis of dementia; Diagnosis of psychiatric disease; Currently participating in any type of psychological or behavioural intervention for NPSs

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Jung Jae LEE

  School of nursing, The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 29, 2025
• First Posted: January 12, 2026
• Study Start: September 17, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2026
• Study Completion: March 1, 2026
• Last Updated: January 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-09

Locations

HK (1)