Instant-message personalized Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for neuropsychiatric symptoms in mild cognitive impairment
Instant Message-delivered Personalised Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (IMPACT) for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Persons With Mild Cognitive Impairment: a Mixed Methods Study
This test sends personalized instant messages based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to see if they reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms in people aged 50 and older with mild cognitive impairment.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 160 (estimated) |
| Ages | 50 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The University of Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hong Kong) |
| Trial ID | NCT07420426 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The intervention delivers an automated library of instant messages consisting of brief MCI information (optional) and mandatory Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) content, with delivery personalized for content, timing, and frequency. A scheduler program automates message sending according to participant preferences, and chat-style real-time support is available during working hours from research staff who provide supportive (nonclinical) responses. The control group receives general mental health messages from a government website. The study will examine feasibility and symptom change among community-dwelling adults meeting specified cognitive and neuropsychiatric screening criteria who can use smartphone messaging.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Community-dwelling adults aged 50 or older with mild cognitive impairment (HK‑MoCA 18–22) who have neuropsychiatric symptoms (MBI‑C ≥7, SCD‑9 ≥3), IADL <18, can read Chinese and use smartphone text or voice messaging, and do not have dementia or current psychiatric diagnoses.
Not a fit: People with a clinical diagnosis of dementia or psychiatric disease, those currently receiving psychiatric medication or other psychological/behavioral interventions, those in acute/post-acute care, or those unable to use/read smartphone messages are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer an accessible, low-cost way to reduce mood and behavioral symptoms for people with MCI through personalized, message-based ACT support.
How similar studies have performed: While digital ACT and SMS-based mental health programs have shown benefits in general adult populations, personalized instant-message ACT specifically targeting neuropsychiatric symptoms in MCI is largely novel and not yet proven.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 50 years * HK-MoCA score ranged from 18 to 22 * MBI-C ≥7 * SCD-9 ≥3 * IADL \<18 * Able to read and communicate in Chinese * Able to use the text or voice messaging function on a smartphone Exclusion Criteria: * Clinical diagnosis of dementia * Clinical diagnosis of psychiatric disease * Currently participating in any type of psychological or behavioural intervention for NPSs * Currently taking psychiatric medication * Currently receiving acute care or post-acute hospitalization care
Where this trial is running
Hong Kong
- The University of Hong Kong — Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Doris Sau Fung Yu, Professor — School of nursing, The University of Hong Kong
- Study coordinator: Doris Sau Fung Yu, Professor
- Email: dyu1@hku.hk
- Phone: +852 3917 6319
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.