Morning Activation to Improve Mood After Stroke | NCT07719517

NCT07719517

Overview

NCT ID: NCT07719517
Lead Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityOTHER
Official Title: Morning Activation to Improve Mood After Stroke
Brief Summary: This pilot randomized controlled trial will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a six-week behavioral intervention designed to improve mood and daily functioning in adults who have experienced a stroke and report depressive symptoms and difficulty becoming engaged in activities after waking.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either the behavioral intervention or a health education program. Assessments will be completed before and immediately after the six-week program and will include questionnaires and seven-day monitoring of sleep, activity, and mood. The study will also examine feasibility indices such as participant retention, intervention attendance, acceptability, and preliminary changes in mood.
Conditions: Stroke
Depressive Symptoms

Status and Timeline

Status: Recruiting
Last Update Posted: Jul 22, 2026Actual
Start Date: May 15, 2026Actual
Primary Completion Date: Dec 2026Estimated
Completion Date

Participation Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study: Adult (18-64)Older Adult (65+)
Sexes Eligible for Study: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No
Eligibility Criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Age 18 years or older.

History of stroke at least 6 months before enrollment.

Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score of 10 or higher.

Difficulty getting started or engaging in activities in the morning.

Able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Conditions that would interfere with study participation.

Neurological condition other than stroke.

Currently receiving psychological therapy for depression.

Significant cognitive impairment or dementia.

Current or past diagnosis of psychosis, bipolar disorder, or mania.

Hospitalization that would interfere with study participation.

Acute or significant suicidal ideation

Alcohol or substance use problems within the past month.

Use of antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication unless the dosage has been stable for at least 4 weeks and no changes are planned during the study.

Study Plan

Study Type: Interventional
Phase: Not Applicable
Enrollment: 30Estimated
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single

Contacts and Locations

Central Contacts: Stephen LauContact
chun-lun-stephen.lau@polyu.edu.hk+852 2766 4283

Similar Studies

Participant Group/Arms

Morning Activation ProgramExperimental

Participants will receive a six-week individualized behavioral program delivered in weekly sessions of approximately 60 minutes. The program is designed to support engagement in daily activities after waking, establish consistent daily routines, and improve mood and functioning after stroke.

Behavioral: Morning Activation Program

Health Education ProgramActive Comparator

Participants will receive a six-week health education program delivered in weekly sessions of approximately 60 minutes. The program will provide general information relevant to health and recovery after stroke and will be matched to the experimental program in session frequency and duration. It will not include the individualized behavioral strategies provided in the experimental arm.

Behavioral: Health Education Program