An exercise and mental-health program for veterans with COPD and low activity
The Development of an Integrated Physical Activity and Mental Health Intervention for Veterans with COPD, Emotion Distress, and Low Physical Activity
This program helps veterans with COPD who have depression or anxiety and low physical activity by combining step-based walking goals with brief cognitive-behavioral therapy delivered over video.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Boston Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11220709 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would work with a program called Step-CBT that combines simple, pedometer-guided walking goals and short cognitive-behavioral therapy lessons tailored to people with COPD. Researchers will first interview a small group of veterans to learn how breathlessness and emotions affect daily activity and use those insights to shape the program language and exercises. The adapted program will be delivered through VA Video Connect and tested for acceptability with a few veterans before a larger pilot. The goal is to make home-based, practical tools that fit your experience and can be used during COVID-era telehealth care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are veterans with diagnosed COPD who have clinically meaningful depression or anxiety, report low levels of physical activity, and can use VA Video Connect for telehealth visits.
Not a fit: Patients without significant emotional distress, those who are not veterans or not receiving care through the VA, or those with severe mobility limitations or inability to use telehealth may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help reduce breathlessness-related avoidance, improve mood, and increase daily physical activity for veterans with COPD.
How similar studies have performed: Previous combined physical-activity plus CBT programs improved mood and activity in people with heart failure and diabetes, but applying and tailoring this approach specifically for COPD via telehealth is new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- VA Boston Health Care System — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bamonti, Patricia — VA Boston Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Bamonti, Patricia
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.