Explore the Neural Mechanism of Mindfulness Training to Reduce Loneliness in Depressed Older Adults

Last updated: November 14, 2022
Sponsor: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Depression

Treatment

N/A

Clinical Study ID

NCT05620511
201902151A3
  • Ages > 55
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Perceived loneliness causes a global health burden on older adults. Mindfulness training may be a feasible solution. Through our study, we expect that comprehensive and convincing neuroscientific evidence may support the efficacy underpinning mindfulness training in loneliness reduction.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age > 55 years.
  2. Major depressive disorder (MDD).

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Inability to provide informed consent.
  2. Dementia, as defined by MMSE < 24 (<17 if illiterate or no education) and clinicalevidence of dementia based on DSM-5 criteria.
  3. Lifetime diagnosis of bipolar I or II disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffectivedisorder, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder, or current psychoticsymptoms.
  4. Abuse of or dependence on alcohol or other substances within the past 3 months, andconfirmed by study physician interview.
  5. High risk for suicide (e.g., active suicide ideation and/or current/recent intent orplan) AND unable to be managed safely in the clinical trial (e.g., unwilling to behospitalized). Urgent psychiatric referral will be made in these cases.
  6. Non-correctable clinically significant sensory impairment (i.e., cannot hear wellenough to cooperate with interview).
  7. Unstable medical illness, including delirium, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus,hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or cerebrovascular or cardiovascular risk factors thatare not under medical management.
  8. Currently under psychotherapy or taking regular meditation or yoga practice (or hadexperience in these activities)

Study Design

Total Participants: 180
Study Start date:
August 01, 2020
Estimated Completion Date:
July 31, 2023

Study Description

In this aging and highly industrial society, elderly depression, particularly elderly loneliness, is a growing societal issue. Perceived loneliness not only causes tremendous suffering, disability, cognitive decline, and risk of dementia but also leads to increased mortality. Despite worldwide effort to solve the growing prevalence of loneliness in older adults, no single intervention stands out as universally effective and practical. The exact neural mechanism of loneliness and how the intervention against loneliness takes its effect in the brain remain unclear. Prior studies have indicated that perceived loneliness is associated with distorted cognition toward interpersonal interaction and heightened sympathetic nerve system.Mindfulness training is a discipline that the older adults in our society can readily relate to because the philosophy of mindfulness is similar to Buddhism. Mindfulness trains people to be aware of the surrounding environment and their presence in this environment. Combining the exercises of deep breathing and relaxation, one is taught to be aware of the emotion of oneself to regulate emotion. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a validated and systemized intervention, has been applied to the treatment of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. On the basis of the theory of mindfulness, the investigators estimate that mindfulness can reduce loneliness as well. Thus, the investigators aim to use MBSR in a group of older adults with depression to reduce loneliness. Our previous studies demonstrated that loneliness decreases the grey matter volume in reward system, disrupts the white matter structure, and heightens default-mode network activation. By combining a wearable device for sleep monitoring, heart rate variability measurement, and immune-related cytokine blood test, the investigators can associate these changes with clinical loneliness reduction and brain changes from magnetic resonance imaging. The investigators hope to validate MBSR as an effective intervention against loneliness and explore the supporting neural mechanism.

Connect with a study center

  • Che-min Lin

    Keelung, 204
    Taiwan

    Active - Recruiting

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.