Recruiting

Tai Chi/Qigong

Sponsor:

Florida International University

Code:

NCT06586619

Conditions

Depressive Symptoms

Hiv

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 50 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Tai chi/qigong intervention group

Health Education group

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn if tai chi/qigong decreases depressive symptoms among older people living with HIV compared to a health education class. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does tai chi/qigong reduce depressive symptoms among older people living with HIV more than a health education class? What are the behavioral, psychological, and biological mechanisms in which tai chi/qigong affects depressive symptoms? Does tai chi/qigong affect depressive symptoms among older people living with HIV differently for men compared to women?

Researchers will compare a 12-week, twice a week remotely delivered tai chi/qigong intervention to a health education class of the same duration to determine if it improves depressive symptoms among older people living with HIV.

Participants will:

Attend either a tai chi/qigong class twice a week for 12 weeks or a health education class of the same duration delivered via Zoom. Each class will be 45-60 minutes in length.

Participate in 3 separate interviewer-administered interviews: at the time of enrollment, 3 months after the last class, and 9 months after the last class.

Keep a tracking log of their home practice of tai chi/qigong (only participants in the intervention group).

Use a biosensor (an earlobe sensor or chest strap) to measure their heart variability.

Go to their local lab (e.g., Quest or Labcorp) for blood draw at the time of enrollment and at 9 month post intervention (this will only be a subset of participants).

Conditions

Depressive Symptoms

Hiv

Study ID

NCT06586619

Start date

Aug 4, 2025

Status verified date

Aug, 2025

Completion date

May, 2029

Anticipated

Primary completion date

May, 2029

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 50 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

1. The ability to provide consent assessed by the GAIN Cognitive Impairment Scale
2. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
3. Must be 50 - 75 years old.
4. Must have been diagnosed with HIV by a healthcare professional (status confirmed at baseline by an uploaded picture of a recent lab report or medication bottle with name),
5. Must have reliable internet access,
6. Must have a smart phone
7. No substantial experience (regular weekly practice for more than 3 months in the past 12 months) with mind-body interventions,
8. Willing to participate for the length of the 12-week intervention and follow up assessments (a total of 12 months).
9. Must report stable housing for the past 60 days and the next 60 days;
10. Must have mild to moderate depressive symptoms (a score more than 5 but less than 19 on the PHQ-9 scale)
11. Must speak and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

1. Reports high risk for suicide based on the CCSR screening tool.
2. Has participated in a study on mental health in the last 12 months.
3. Currently exercising at least 150 minutes a week

Study Design

Enrollment

326 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Tai chi/qigong group

This is a behavioral intervention that consist of tai chi/qigong group classes via Zoom twice a week for 12 weeks.

active comparator: Health education group

This is a general health education control group class that will also be delivered via Zoom and will be twice a week for 12 weeks.

Interventions

Tai chi/qigong intervention group

The intervention is a tai chi/qigong intervention for older people living with HIV. This behavioral group-based intervention will be delivered through Zoom twice a week for 12 weeks. Each class lasts 45-60 minutes. Tai chi/qigong is a slow low impact meditative movement.

Health Education group

Participants will be assigned to a health and wellness education group for older people living with HIV. This group will be delivered through Zoom twice a week for 12 weeks, and each class will last 45-60 minutes. Each group will learn about and discuss a health and wellness topic.

Primary outcome measure

  • Depressive Symptoms [ Time Frame: Depressive symptoms will be assessed at enrollment (or baseline), 3 months post intervention, and 9 months post intervention. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Gladys E Ibanez, Ph.D.

305-348-4920gibanez@fiu.edu

Adam Carrico, Ph.D.

acarrico@fiu.edu

Locations

Florida International University

Recruiting

Miami, Florida, United States, 33199

Contacts

Gladys Ibanez

305-348-4920gibanez@fiu.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Florida International University

Last update posted

Sep 8, 2025

Last verified

Aug, 2025

Keywords

  • Depression
  • HIV
  • older
  • tai chi
  • mindfulness
  • intervention

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Florida International University on 2025-09-08.