Clinical trial NCT03591211: Bio-psycho-social Pathways Underlying the Effects of Qigong Among Comorbid Depressed Elderly With Chronic Conditions
Official title: Bio-psycho-social Pathways Underlying the Effects of Qigong Among Comorbid Depressed Elderly With Chronic Conditions
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Chronic Disease
Depressive Symptoms
Lead sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: I-Shou University
name: Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
First posted: 2018-07-19
Enrollment: 35
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Depression and chronic medical conditions are common in older adults. Qigong is increasingly documented to have anti-depressive effects for older adults. Nevertheless, the scientific concepts behind qigong remain a mystery. To fill the knowledge gap, the neurobiological mechanism of the effects of qigong was explored. In addition, the benefits of qigong on subjective well-being, functional independence, sleep quality, mobility, and muscle strength were also tested. After random assignment, intervention group (n = 14) went through individual qigong exercise twice a week and for 12 weeks,whereas control group (n = 16) was involved in cognitive training activities with mobilization elements. The psychosocial, physical, and neurobiological outcomes of the two groups were compared.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* aged 60 or above
* have been suffering from chronic medical conditions for more than one year
* have depressive symptoms as indicated by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS ≥ 6)

Exclusion Criteria:

* have practiced or received training of any form of mind-body exercises (including tai chi, yoga, and qigong) during the 6 months prior to intervention.
* have changed medication or the dosage prior to or during intervention
* have obvious cognitive and language impairment or score less than 20 in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
* undergo electroconvulsive therapy, psychotherapy, or psychoeducation
* cannot demonstrate satisfactory sitting balance

Primary outcomes:
measure: Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)
timeFrame: the change from baseline to the completion of intervention (12 weeks later)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Salivary Cortisol Level
timeFrame: baseline and 12 weeks after baseline
measure: Brain Deprived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Level
timeFrame: baseline and 12 weeks after baseline
measure: Serotonin 5-HT Level
timeFrame: baseline and 12 weeks after baseline
measure: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21)
timeFrame: baseline, 12 weeks after baseline, and 16 weeks after baseline
measure: Personal Well-Being Index (PWI)
timeFrame: baseline, 12 weeks after baseline, and 16 weeks after baseline
measure: Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
timeFrame: baseline, 12 weeks after baseline, and 16 weeks after baseline
measure: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
timeFrame: baseline, 12 weeks after baseline, and 16 weeks after baseline
measure: Timed up and Go Test (TUG)
timeFrame: baseline, 12 weeks after baseline, and 16 weeks after baseline
measure: Handgrip Strength
timeFrame: baseline, 12 weeks after baseline, and 16 weeks after baseline
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Hong Kong
country: Hong Kong
facility: The Hong Kong Polytechinic University
Study officials:
References: