Digital mental health support for older adults with depression, anxiety, and chronic pain
Official title: Digital mental health intervention for middle-aged and older adults with depression and/or anxiety and coexisting chronic pain
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11047727 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a friendly app to help middle-aged and older adults who are dealing with depression or anxiety along with chronic pain, offering them tools and support to feel better and manage their pain more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | March 4, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $771,375 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131989-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11047727 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are middle-aged and older adults experiencing depression and/or anxiety in conjunction with chronic pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have chronic pain or those who are younger than middle age may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a digital mental health intervention tailored for middle-aged and older adults who experience depression and/or anxiety alongside chronic pain. By partnering with Wysa, a mental health app company, the project aims to enhance an existing app that provides cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness training. The intervention will address the unique needs of older adults, ensuring usability and effectiveness in managing both mental health and chronic pain. Participants will engage with the app to improve their emotional well-being and pain management through guided activities and support.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the mental health and quality of life for older adults suffering from depression, anxiety, and chronic pain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that digital mental health interventions can effectively reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, but this specific approach for older adults with chronic pain is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheng, Abby Ling-Lee — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Cheng, Abby Ling-Lee
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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.