Qigong and Social Isolation: Mental Health Benefits

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The objective of the study is to understand if Qigong may be useful in controlling the psychological state of participants in relative social isolation (during Covid-19 governmental imposed isolation procedures) The sessions are conducted live by the internet by a professional instructor-therapist with the duration of 2 months and a regular minimum of 2 sessions a week.

Detailed Description
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The study's objective is to understand if Qigong may be helpful on the psychological state control of the participants in a relative state of isolation imposed by the government on the fight against Covid-19. Data is gathered via the Mental Health Inventory (MHI) adapted to the Portuguese population to assess quantitative mental health scores and a simple structured interview to assess qualitative mental health benefits of Chikung (Qigong). Qigong was the chosen technique to be studied as an intervention. Qigong is a Traditional Chinese Medicine therapeutic tool that has been studied for its several health benefits. As a traditional vegetative biofeedback therapy, Qigong can be useful for the maintenance of mental health of people with several conditions such as anxiety and depression, autism spectrum disorder and even conditions related to behavioral control. Group 1 was composed of Qigong practitioners (for at least 3 months). Group 2 was composed of participants who would receive the Qigong intervention (never practiced Qigong). Group 3 was composed of control participants (who would not receive the intervention).

Official Title
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Qigong Effects on Mental Health of People Under Relative Isolation

Conditions
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Mental Health Wellness 1

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Qigong


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: - Exclusion Criteria: Physical or mental disabilities or conditions that may aggravate when performing semi-supervised physical activity

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 16 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Qigong practitioner group<br>This arm is the experimental group where qigong intervention is going to be applied to practitioners with experience | Other: Qigong<br>* Qigong as a traditional chinese medicine technique, composed of several types of exercises: Baduanjin, taijiquan, yijinjing, baojiangong.<br>* Other names: Taichi;|
| No Intervention: No practice<br>This group has no intervention and acts as control | |
| Experimental: Beginner Qigong practitioner group<br>This arm is the experimental group where qigong intervention is going to be applied to practitioners with no experience. | Other: Qigong<br>* Qigong as a traditional chinese medicine technique, composed of several types of exercises: Baduanjin, taijiquan, yijinjing, baojiangong.<br>* Other names: Taichi;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Psychological Well-being (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means a higher Psychological Well-being (0-100 score) | T0 - Baseline week 0 | 
| Psychological Well-being (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means a higher Psychological Well-being (0-100 score) | T1 - 8 weeks | 
| Psychological Distress (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means a higher Psychological Distress (0-100 score) | T0 - Baseline week 0 | 
| Psychological Distress (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means a higher Psychological Distress (0-100 score) | T1 - 8 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Positive Affect (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means a higher Positive Affect (0-100 score) | T0 - Baseline week 0 | 
| Positive Affect (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means a higher Positive Affect (0-100 score) | T1 - 8 weeks | 
| Emotional Ties (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means higher Emotional Ties (0-100 score) | T0 - Baseline week 0 | 
| Emotional Ties (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means higher Emotional Ties (0-100 score) | T1 - 8 weeks | 
| Loss of emotional or behavioral control (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means a higher Loss of emotional or behavioral control (0-100 score) | T0 - Baseline week 0 | 
| Loss of emotional or behavioral control (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means a higher Loss of emotional or behavioral control (0-100 score) | T1 - 8 weeks | 
| Anxiety (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means higher Anxiety levels (0-100 score) | T0 - Baseline week 0 | 
| Anxiety (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means higher Anxiety levels (0-100 score) | T1 - 8 weeks | 
| Depression (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means higher Depression levels (0-100 score) | T0 - Baseline week 0 | 
| Depression (Mental health Inventory (MHI) dimension) | A higher score means higher Depression levels (0-100 score) | T1 - 8 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Qigong, Mental health, social isolation, Traditional vegetative biofeedback therapy