Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07336342

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for the Chronic Pain-depression Co-morbidity Among Older Black Adults in the Community; The Quiet Focus Open Pilot

The goal of this clinical trial is to pilot an adaptation of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for chronic pain and depression. The main questions it aims to answer in a later fully powered randomized controlled trial are:

* Is an adaptation of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for older Black adults able to improve quality of life? * Will an adapted mindfulness based cognitive therapy reduce pain interference to a greater degree than a traditional health enhancement program?

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Age range

50 year–120 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

About this study

Co-morbid chronic pain-depression is common among older Black adults and this co-morbidity worsens physical and emotional function. Access to evidence based non-pharmacological management is limited. Mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an evidence-based, non-pharmacological intervention that could address the chronic pain-depression co-morbidity among older Black adults, but it requires tailoring. The proposed study will establish the feasibility, acceptability and credibility of Quiet Focus, a cultural adaptation of MBCT aimed at the chronic pain-depression co-morbidity among older Black adults in the community.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Participant Inclusion Criteria

  • Older adult (age ≥ 50)
  • All individuals who identify with one or more nationalities or ethnic groups originating in any of the Black racial groups of Africa
  • Pain in muscles, joints, bones, or associated soft tissues (NRS>4) lasting longer than 3 months
  • Depressed (PHQ-9 score of 5-14)
  • English fluency/literacy
  • Ability and willingness to participate via in-person and video
  • No change to type or dose of antidepressant medications for at least 6 weeks prior to screening
  • Willing to provide informed consent and comply with all aspects of the protocol

Participant Exclusion Criteria

  • Moderately severe or severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 15)
  • Current substance abuse/dependence
  • Significant cognitive impairment
  • History of more than 8 sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • History of previous training in mindfulness or undergoing counseling more than once a month
  • History of or current diagnosis of psychosis
  • Active suicidal ideation (PHQ-9 item #9 or otherwise reported during screening) or self-harm within the past 90 days
  • Current participation in another behavioral clinical trial

Treatment and study plan

Quiet Focus

Behavioral

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy adapted for older adults at-risk for chronic pain and depression.

Primary outcomes

  1. The Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire

    Time frame: From enrollment to 3 months from the end of treatment at 8 weeks

    This scale measures participant expectations around the study's positive outcomes, with measures ranging from 0 (not at all expected) to 9 (extremely expected). A higher score indicate greater trust in the study design and an openness to potential benefits.

  2. The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire

    Time frame: Administered at the end of treatment at 8 weeks and at the three month follow up visit.

    Three item scale measuring patient satisfaction with the program. Scores for each item range from 1 (unsatisfied) to 4 (very satisfied).

  3. Modified Patient Global Impression of Change

    Time frame: At end of 8 week program (post test) and again at 3 month follow up visit.

    Measures participant impressions of overall change with one being very much improved and eight being very much worse. Lower scores indicate improvement.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Numerical Rating Scale

    Time frame: From enrollment to 3 months from the end of treatment at 8 weeks.

    Numerical rating of pain with lower scores indicating less pain overall (0 = no pain) and higher scores indicating more pain (10 = worst ever pain) over the past week.

  2. PROMIS Physical Function

    Time frame: From enrollment to 3 months from the end of treatment at 8 weeks

    The PROMIS Depression raw score is calculated by summing item responses, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale where 1 = "Never" and 5 = "Always," with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. This raw score is converted to a T-score using a standardized table, where 50 represents the average level in the general population and 10 is the standard deviation.

  3. PROMIS Anxiety

    Time frame: From enrollment to 3 months from the end of treatment at 8 weeks

    The PROMIS Anxiety raw score is calculated by summing item responses, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale where 1 = "Never" and 5 = "Always," with higher scores reflecting greater anxiety symptoms. The raw score is then converted to a T-score using a standardized scoring table, with 50 representing the population average and 10 as the standard deviation.

  4. PROMIS Depression

    Time frame: From enrollment to 3 months from the end of treatment at 8 weeks

    The PROMIS Depression raw score is calculated by summing item responses, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale where 1 = "Never" and 5 = "Always," with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. This raw score is converted to a T-score using a standardized table, where 50 represents the average level in the general population and 10 is the standard deviation.

  5. PROMIS Emotional Support

    Time frame: From enrollment to 3 months from the end of treatment at 8 weeks.

    The PROMIS Emotional Support raw score is calculated by summing item responses, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale where 1 = "Never" and 5 = "Always," with higher scores indicating greater perceived emotional support. This raw score is converted to a T-score using a standardized table, where 50 represents the average for the general population and 10 is the standard deviation.

  6. Measure of Current Status Part A

    Time frame: From enrollment to 3 months from the end of treatment at 8 weeks

    The Measure of Current Status Part A (MOCS-A) is a self-report questionnaire that measures ability to manage stress. The score is calculated by summing responses to each item, rated on a 5-point Likert scale where 0 = "I cannot do this at all" and 4 = "I can do this extremely well," with higher scores reflecting greater confidence in coping skills. The scale measures current perceived ability to manage stress across areas like relaxation, awareness of tension, assertiveness, and coping confidence.

  7. Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised

    Time frame: From enrollment to 3 months from the end of treatment at 8 weeks

    Description: The Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale - Revised (CAMS-R) measures percieved ability to complete mindfulness tasks such as meditation, with a 0 being rarely/not at all and a 3 being almost always. Higher scores indicate greater ability to practice mindfulness skills.

  8. Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire

    Time frame: From enrollment to 3 months from the end of treatment at 8 weeks

    The Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ)*= raw score is calculated by summing responses to each item, rated on a 7-point Likert scale where 0 = "Never true" and 6 = "Always true," with higher scores indicating greater acceptance of chronic pain. The scale assesses two key areas: pain willingness(the ability to experience pain without trying to control or avoid it) and activity engagement (continuing meaningful activities despite pain).

  9. Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire

    Time frame: From enrollment to 3 months from the end of treatment at 8 weeks

    The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) measures confidence in engaging in activities despite chronic pain. Higher scores indicate greater confidence (6 = complete confidence) and lower scores indicate lower confidence (0 = not at all confident).

  10. Pain Catastrophizing Scale

    Time frame: From enrollment to 3 months from the end of treatment at 8 weeks

    The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) score is calculated by summing responses to each item, rated on a 5-point Likert scale where 0 = "Not at all" and 4 = "All the time," with higher scores indicating greater levels of catastrophic thinking related to pain. The scale measures three components of pain catastrophizing: rumination, magnification, and helplessness.

  11. Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale

    Time frame: From enrollment to 3 months from the end of treatment at 8 weeks

    The Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS) measures fear of movement and is calculated by summing responses to each item, rated on a 4-point Likert scale where 1 = "Strongly disagree" and 4 = "Strongly agree," with higher scores indicating greater fear of movement or reinjury due to physical activity.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jan 13, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 13, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.