Improving physical activity and mental health in older veterans with pain and depression

MOTIVATE to Improve Outcomes for Older Veterans with Musculoskeletal Pain and Depression

NIH-funded research VA North Texas Health Care System · NIH-11006245

This study is looking at how a special program called MOTIVATE can help older veterans who are dealing with pain and depression by encouraging them to be more active and set personal goals, all with the support of a health coach over 12 weeks, to help them feel better and enjoy life more.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVA North Texas Health Care System NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Dallas, United States)
Project IDNIH-11006245 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on older veterans suffering from musculoskeletal pain and depression, aiming to enhance their quality of life through a behavioral intervention called MOTIVATE. The program utilizes motivational interviewing, goal setting, and patient activation techniques delivered by a health coach via telephone or video over 12 weeks. By encouraging physical activity, the intervention seeks to alleviate pain and depressive symptoms, ultimately improving overall function and well-being. Preliminary results indicate that this approach is feasible and beneficial for participants.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are veterans aged 65 and older who experience chronic musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms.

Not a fit: Patients who are younger than 65 or do not have musculoskeletal pain or depressive symptoms may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the physical and mental health of older veterans, leading to better management of pain and depression.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promising results with similar behavioral interventions targeting pain and depression in older adults, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Where this research is happening

Dallas, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.