Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2BEHOLDNCT05420051
Boosting Emotional Well-being and Happiness in Outpatients Living With Diabetes
A study testing Positive Psychology + Motivational Interviewing and Motivational Interviewing in people with Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The focus of this study is to test the efficacy of an 8-week, remotely delivered, positive-psychology-motivational interviewing (PP-MI) intervention, with additional twice weekly text messages for a total of 16 weeks (with interactive, algorithm-driven, goal-focused text messages in the final 8 weeks), compared to… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
- What is being tested?
- Positive Psychology + Motivational Interviewing and Motivational Interviewing
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 280 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 12 Oct 2022to 1 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes
- Low physical activity (<150 minutes/week of moderate to vigorous physical activity)
Who cannot join
- Cognitive deficits impeding a participant's ability to provide informed consent or participate
- Medical conditions likely to lead to death within 6 months.
- Pre-existing coronary artery disease
- Moderate-severe depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] score ≥15)
- Use of non-basal insulin
- Inability to participate in physical activity due to another medical condition
Show all 9Show fewer
- Inability to receive text messages
- Inability to read, write, or speak in English
- Current participation in another intervention or program that has been designed to promote well-being or physical activity
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
Jeff C Huffman, MD, 617-724-2910, jhuffman@mgh.harvard.edu
About this study
Official title: A Novel Psychological-behavioral Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Type 2 Diabetes
The focus of this study is to test the efficacy of an 8-week, remotely delivered, positive-psychology-motivational interviewing (PP-MI) intervention, with additional twice weekly text messages for a total of 16 weeks (with interactive, algorithm-driven, goal-focused text messages in the final 8 weeks), compared to MI-alone, in a randomized trial of 280 individuals with type 2 diabetes and low baseline physical activity.
Read the detailed description
The investigators are proposing a study that will focus on testing the efficacy of a PP-MI intervention, with additional twice text messages for a total of 16 weeks (with interactive, algorithm-driven, goal-focused text messages in the final 8 weeks) in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The investigators will enroll 280 type 2 diabetes patients, who will take part in either an 8-week intervention (with 16 weeks of supplemental text messages) or an attention-matched, MI-alone condition.
In this project, the investigators hope to do the following:
- Examine the efficacy of an 8-week, phone-delivered PP-MI intervention for individuals with type 2 diabetes on physical activity-related outcomes, as compared to the MI-alone condition.
- Assess PP-MI's impact on psychological measures (e.g., positive affect [key secondary outcome]), diabetes self-care, function, glycemic control, and cardiometabolic risk, compared to MI alone.
- Examine causal mediation of PP-MI's effects on MVPA at 16 weeks by positive affect (primary hypothesized mediator) and other psychological/cognitive variables across our theoretical model.
Participants will be adult outpatients with type 2 diabetes. They will attend an in-person visit to provide informed consent and complete baseline outcome measures, then will wear an accelerometer to monitor their physical activity for one week to obtain information about baseline activity levels. Upon confirmation of low moderate to vigorous physical activity, participants will be randomized to receive the PP-MI intervention or the MI-alone intervention.
Participants in both groups will be provided a treatment manual, an activity tracker, and other treatment materials. The intervention will be introduced, and the first exercise will be assigned.
Participants will complete eight weekly phone sessions with a study trainer. The phone sessions primarily will include a review of the prior week's session content and a discussion of the rationale and assignment of the next week's exercise/assignment.
Participants will receive twice weekly text messages throughout the intervention (Weeks 1-8) and initial follow-up period (Weeks 9-16). In the PP-MI condition, these messages will focus on the PP activity and physical activity, while those in the MI-alone condition will focus on physical activity and other health behaviors. During Weeks 9-16, participants in the PP-MI condition will engage with twice weekly, automated, interactive text messages related to PP and physical activity, while those in the MI-alone condition will receive fixed text messages related to engagement in health behaviors.
At Weeks 8, 16, 24, and 52, participants will complete follow-up visits. One week prior to these visits, participants will be mailed an accelerometer and will wear it until their study visit. During these study visits, participants will complete outcome assessments and have a blood sample taken.
- Conditions
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
- Being tested
- Positive Psychology + Motivational Interviewing, Motivational Interviewing
- Medical subject headings
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Positive Psychology + Motivational InterviewingBehavioural
The 8-week PP-MI intervention focuses on enhancing well-being (through PP) and increasing physical activity (through MI). Each week, participants will complete a PP activity and work towards a physical activity goal, then complete a phone session with a study trainer. The PP portion of the program will focus on the cultivation of well-being through the performance of easy-to complete activities (e.g., using a strength in a new way) and review of the positive feelings they generate. The MI portion of the program will focus on assisting participants to improve physical activity levels, resolve ambivalence to behavior change, set realistic physical activity goals, problem-solve barriers, and identify resources to complete behavior change. Finally, participants will receive twice weekly text messages (for 16 weeks) to encourage completion of PP activities and engagement in physical activity.
Motivational InterviewingBehavioural
The 8-week MI-alone intervention focuses on providing education and enhancing motivation to engage in health behaviors (through MI). Each week, participants will complete an activity related to a health behavior (e.g., consider the pros and cons of behavior change, set a health behavior goal), then complete a phone session with a study trainer. This program will focus on assisting participants to improve health behavior adherence (including physical activity), resolve ambivalence to behavior change, set realistic health behavior goals, problem-solve barriers, and identify resources to complete behavior change. Additional time in MI-alone phone sessions will be spent on review of core MI skills, problem-solving of barriers, and discussion of resources. Finally, participants will receive twice weekly text messages (for 16 weeks) to encourage engagement in health behaviors.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Psychology + Motivational Interviewing | Experimental | Each week, participants in the PP-MI intervention group will complete a PP activity and work towards a physical activity goal, then complete a phone session with a study trainer. Each phone session will include PP and goal setting portions. In the PP portion, the study trainer will (a) review the week's PP exercise, (b) discuss the rationale of the next week's PP exercise through a guided review of the PP-MI manual, and (c) assign the next week's PP exercise. In the goal-setting portion, the trainer will (a) review the participant's physical activity goal from the prior week, (b) discuss techniques for improving physical activity (e.g. tracking activity), and (c) help the participant to set a physical activity goal for the next week. Participants also will receive supplemental text messages throughout the 8 weeks of the intervention and during the initial follow-up period (Week 9-16). Receives: Behavioral: Positive Psychology + Motivational Interviewing |
| Motivational Interviewing | Active comparator | Each week, participants in the MI-alone group will complete an activity related to a health behavior (e.g., thinking about the pros and cons of changing the behavior), then complete a phone session with a study trainer. During the phone session, the trainer will (a) review the prior week's topic, (b) discuss techniques for improving adherence to health behaviors (e.g. tracking activity), and (c) problem-solve barriers and encourage the use of resources. Participants also will receive supplemental text messages throughout the 8 weeks of the intervention and during the initial follow-up period (Week 9-16). Receives: Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from Baseline Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) at 16 weeks
MVPA will be measured via an accelerometer and recorded in mean minutes/day.
Measured: Measured for 7 days at baseline and 16 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Change from Baseline Overall Activity at 16 weeks
Overall activity will be measured via an accelerometer and recorded in mean steps/day.
Measured: Measured for 7 days at baseline and 16 weeks
Change from Baseline in positive affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule [PANAS] positive affect items) at 16 weeks
The positive affect items on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), a well-validated scale used in other intervention trials and in patients with HF, will be used to measure positive affect (Range: 10-50). Higher scores indicate higher levels of positive affect.
Measured: Baseline, 16 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Jun 2022
- Study start12 Oct 2022
- Primary completion1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Massachusetts General HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 280 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jeff C. Huffman, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05420051
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2022P000780
- Acronym
- BEHOLD
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Jun 2022
- Last updated
- 13 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: To promote sharing of study data with other researchers, we will create a deidentified study dataset. We will include both item-level and summary scores for each scale and will include data from the baseline, 8-week, 16-week, 24-week, and 52-week time points.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Novel Psychological-behavioral Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Type 2 Diabetes
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05420051
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- BEHOLD / 2022P000780
- Conditions
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 280 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 12 Oct 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Jun 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The focus of this study is to test the efficacy of an 8-week, remotely delivered, positive-psychology-motivational interviewing (PP-MI) intervention, with additional twice weekly text messages for a total of 16 weeks (with interactive, algorithm-driven, goal-focused text messages in the final 8 weeks), compared to MI-alone, in a randomized trial of 280 individuals with type 2 diabetes and low baseline physical activity.
Detailed description
The investigators are proposing a study that will focus on testing the efficacy of a PP-MI intervention, with additional twice text messages for a total of 16 weeks (with interactive, algorithm-driven, goal-focused text messages in the final 8 weeks) in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The investigators will enroll 280 type 2 diabetes patients, who will take part in either an 8-week intervention (with 16 weeks of supplemental text messages) or an attention-matched, MI-alone condition.
In this project, the investigators hope to do the following:
- Examine the efficacy of an 8-week, phone-delivered PP-MI intervention for individuals with type 2 diabetes on physical activity-related outcomes, as compared to the MI-alone condition.
- Assess PP-MI's impact on psychological measures (e.g., positive affect [key secondary outcome]), diabetes self-care, function, glycemic control, and cardiometabolic risk, compared to MI alone.
- Examine causal mediation of PP-MI's effects on MVPA at 16 weeks by positive affect (primary hypothesized mediator) and other psychological/cognitive variables across our theoretical model.
Participants will be adult outpatients with type 2 diabetes. They will attend an in-person visit to provide informed consent and complete baseline outcome measures, then will wear an accelerometer to monitor their physical activity for one week to obtain information about baseline activity levels. Upon confirmation of low moderate to vigorous physical activity, participants will be randomized to receive the PP-MI intervention or the MI-alone intervention.
Participants in both groups will be provided a treatment manual, an activity tracker, and other treatment materials. The intervention will be introduced, and the first exercise will be assigned.
Participants will complete eight weekly phone sessions with a study trainer. The phone sessions primarily will include a review of the prior week's session content and a discussion of the rationale and assignment of the next week's exercise/assignment.
Participants will receive twice weekly text messages throughout the intervention (Weeks 1-8) and initial follow-up period (Weeks 9-16). In the PP-MI condition, these messages will focus on the PP activity and physical activity, while those in the MI-alone condition will focus on physical activity and other health behaviors. During Weeks 9-16, participants in the PP-MI condition will engage with twice weekly, automated, interactive text messages related to PP and physical activity, while those in the MI-alone condition will receive fixed text messages related to engagement in health behaviors.
At Weeks 8, 16, 24, and 52, participants will complete follow-up visits. One week prior to these visits, participants will be mailed an accelerometer and will wear it until their study visit. During these study visits, participants will complete outcome assessments and have a blood sample taken.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Psychology + Motivational Interviewing | Experimental | Behavioral: Positive Psychology + Motivational InterviewingEach week, participants in the PP-MI intervention group will complete a PP activity and work towards a physical activity goal, then complete a phone session with a study trainer. Each phone session will include PP and goal setting portions. In the PP portion, the study trainer will (a) review the week's PP exercise, (b) discuss the rationale of the next week's PP exercise through a guided review of the PP-MI manual, and (c) assign the next week's PP exercise. In the goal-setting portion, the trainer will (a) review the participant's physical activity goal from the prior week, (b) discuss techniques for improving physical activity (e.g. tracking activity), and (c) help the participant to set a physical activity goal for the next week. Participants also will receive supplemental text messages throughout the 8 weeks of the intervention and during the initial follow-up period (Week 9-16). |
| Motivational Interviewing | Active comparator | Behavioral: Motivational InterviewingEach week, participants in the MI-alone group will complete an activity related to a health behavior (e.g., thinking about the pros and cons of changing the behavior), then complete a phone session with a study trainer. During the phone session, the trainer will (a) review the prior week's topic, (b) discuss techniques for improving adherence to health behaviors (e.g. tracking activity), and (c) problem-solve barriers and encourage the use of resources. Participants also will receive supplemental text messages throughout the 8 weeks of the intervention and during the initial follow-up period (Week 9-16). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes
- Low physical activity (<150 minutes/week of moderate to vigorous physical activity)
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Cognitive deficits impeding a participant's ability to provide informed consent or participate
- Medical conditions likely to lead to death within 6 months.
- Pre-existing coronary artery disease
- Moderate-severe depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] score ≥15)
- Use of non-basal insulin
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Psychology + Motivational InterviewingThe 8-week PP-MI intervention focuses on enhancing well-being (through PP) and increasing physical activity (through MI). Each week, participants will complete a PP activity and work towards a physical activity goal, then complete a phone session with a study trainer. The PP portion of the program will focus on the cultivation of well-being through the performance of easy-to complete activities (e.g., using a strength in a new way) and review of the positive feelings they generate. The MI portion of the program will focus on assisting participants to improve physical activity levels, resolve ambivalence to behavior change, set realistic physical activity goals, problem-solve barriers, and identify resources to complete behavior change. Finally, participants will receive twice weekly text messages (for 16 weeks) to encourage completion of PP activities and engagement in physical activity. | Behavioural | Positive Psychology + Motivational Interviewing |
| Motivational InterviewingThe 8-week MI-alone intervention focuses on providing education and enhancing motivation to engage in health behaviors (through MI). Each week, participants will complete an activity related to a health behavior (e.g., consider the pros and cons of behavior change, set a health behavior goal), then complete a phone session with a study trainer. This program will focus on assisting participants to improve health behavior adherence (including physical activity), resolve ambivalence to behavior change, set realistic health behavior goals, problem-solve barriers, and identify resources to complete behavior change. Additional time in MI-alone phone sessions will be spent on review of core MI skills, problem-solving of barriers, and discussion of resources. Finally, participants will receive twice weekly text messages (for 16 weeks) to encourage engagement in health behaviors. | Behavioural | Motivational Interviewing |
Primary outcome
Change from Baseline Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) at 16 weeks
Time frame: Measured for 7 days at baseline and 16 weeks
MVPA will be measured via an accelerometer and recorded in mean minutes/day.
2 secondary outcomes
Change from Baseline Overall Activity at 16 weeks
Time frame: Measured for 7 days at baseline and 16 weeks
Change from Baseline in positive affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule [PANAS] positive affect items) at 16 weeks
Time frame: Baseline, 16 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Apr 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. To promote sharing of study data with other researchers, we will create a deidentified study dataset. We will include both item-level and summary scores for each scale and will include data from the baseline, 8-week, 16-week, 24-week, and 52-week time points.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Positive Psychology + Motivational Interviewing and Motivational Interviewing in people with Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Jeff C Huffman, M.D. (617-724-2910, jhuffman@partners.org), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change from Baseline Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) at 16 weeks (time frame: Measured for 7 days at baseline and 16 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Apr 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.