Recruiting

Morning Activation to Improve Mood After Stroke

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…

ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT07719517

PhaseNA

Enrollment30

SponsorThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Age18 Years

SexALL

I'm interested View official listing

Conditions studied

Stroke, Depressive Symptoms

About this study

Interventions

Behavioral: Morning Activation Program — 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. Sessions will be tailored to participants' needs and abilities.
Behavioral: Health Education Program — 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.

Primary outcomes

Recruitment Rate (From the start of recruitment until enrollment of the final participant.)
Retention Rate (Immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention)
Intervention Attendance (Throughout the 6-week intervention period)
Intervention Acceptability (Immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention)
Participants Experiencing Adverse Events (From enrollment through completion of the immediate post-intervention assessment.)

Eligibility information

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 locations

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Before you participate: Varda Clinical is an independent discovery tool, not the study sponsor or a medical provider. Eligibility can only be determined by the official study team. Discuss potential risks and benefits with a qualified healthcare professional.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.