Instant-message personalized Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for neuropsychiatric symptoms in mild cognitive impairment
Official title: Instant Message-delivered Personalised Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (IMPACT) for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Persons With Mild Cognitive Impairment: a Mixed Methods Study
Run by The University of Hong Kong · NCT07420426 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 50 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 160 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The University of Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hong Kong) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 8, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | May 18, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07420426 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
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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
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.