Qigong and Executive Attention in Older Adults with Depressive Symptoms
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age60+
SponsorThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University
About this trial
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to test whether executive attention unpacks the antidepressant effect of Baduanjin (a form of health qigong) in older adults.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Is Baduanjin an effective treatment to enhance executive attention in older adults with depressive symptoms? * Does Baduanjin work through enhanced executive attention to alleviate depressive symptoms in older adults? Researchers will compare Baduanjin with waitlist control. Participants will receive 12-week Baduanjin training (two sessions per week and 60 min per session).
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
have mild or severer levels of depressive symptoms, as indicated by Geriatric Depression Scale scores of 5 or above or Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 depression subscale scores of 4 or above
self-identified as physically stable and without life-threatening diseases
be able to communicate in Cantonese or Mandarin.
Disqualifiers
(have a history of practicing or receiving training in any form of mind-body or regular exercises (including tai chi, yoga, and qigong or regular physical activity > 3 times/week) during the month prior to recruitment
have changed medications or the dose of medications prescribed for their health condition in the month prior to study enrollment
have a severe cognitive or language impairment, as indicated by a score of less than 21 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment
receiving pharmacological treatment, electroconvulsive therapy, psychotherapy, or psychoeducation for any psychological or psychiatric condition upon the time of recruitment
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Health qigong training
BehavioralParticipants will receive two 60-minute Baduanjin qigong training sessions every week under the instruction and supervision of qualified qigong instructors over 12 weeks (i.e., 24 sessions in total). Baduanjin qigong consists of eight forms of gentle movements, and it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete a full cycle. Participants will learn to practice each form gradually over the first 12 sessions. In the remaining 12 sessions, the participants will go through all the movements 2-3 times, with guided practice on rhythmic breathing and mind regulation (attention to body and breathing) to be performed in coordination with the movements. Instructions on each movement, voice-guide audios, and demonstration videos will be provided for participants' daily self-practice. They will be advised to practice Baduanjin for at least 10 minutes every day.
Treatment groups
200 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: BaduanjinExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Waitlist controlNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Executive attention
The Attention Network Test (ANT) will be used to assess executive attention. The ANT is a computer-based test based on a combination of Posner's cueing task and the Flanker task. Executive attention will be operationalized as the difference in reaction time (measured in ms) in congruent and incongruent trials.
Time frame
Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)Secondary outcomes
1
Depressive symptoms
The 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) will be used to assess depressive symptoms. It includes eight items assessing the frequency of depressive symptoms over the previous two weeks on a 4-point scale (0 = never, 3 = almost every day). The total score ranges from 0 to 24, with a higher score indicating a greater severity of depressive symptoms.
Time frame
Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)2
Amplitude of N2 component
Participants' neurophysiological activity during The Attention Network Test (ANT) will be recorded with a dry electroencephalography (EEG) device, DSI-24 with 21 electrodes. N2 amplitude will be calculated by averaging the amplitudes recorded at the selected electrodes and time windows (210-350 ms).
Time frame
Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)3
Amplitude of P3 component
Participants' neurophysiological activity during The Attention Network Test (ANT) will be recorded with a dry electroencephalography (EEG) device, DSI-24 with 21 electrodes. P3 amplitude will be calculated by averaging the amplitudes recorded at the selected electrodes and time windows (350-550 ms).
Time frame
Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)4
Alerting
The Attention Network Test (ANT) will be used to assess alerting. The ANT is a computer-based test based on a combination of Posner's cueing task and the Flanker task. Alerting will be operationalized as the difference in reaction time in no cue trials and center cue trials.
Time frame
Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)Locations
Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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