Improv Comedy to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Mental Well-Being in Young Chinese Adults in Hong Kong (NCT07737821) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Improv Comedy to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Mental Well-Being in Young Chinese Adults in Hong Kong
Hong Kong150 participantsStarted 2026-08-15
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if improv comedy helps reduce anxiety symptoms and improve mental well-being in Chinese young adults in Hong Kong. The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Does improv comedy reduce anxiety symptoms?
2. Does improv comedy improve mental well-being?
Researchers will compare participants who join the improv comedy workshops to participants who are placed on a waiting list to receive the workshops later, to see if improv comedy reduces anxiety and improves mental well-being.
Participants will:
1. Attend weekly three-hour improv comedy workshops for 4 consecutive weeks
2. Complete four assessments and brief reflections during or around the workshop sessions
3. Take part in up to two individual interviews (optional)
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 29 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Ethnic Chinese, fluent in spoken Mandarin and able to read Chinese
* Never married and without children
* No current or past diagnosis of any mental disorder (e.g. anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders)
* Mild to moderate anxiety symptoms (defined as a GAD-7 total score between 5 and 14)
* No prior experience of formal performance training in drama
* Availability to attend at least 3 out of 4 weekly sessions over the 4-week intervention period upon enrolment
Exclusion Criteria:
* Unstable or severe chronic physical illness that would contraindicate participation in group activities or light-to-moderate physical movement (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, severe asthma, acute cardiovascular events within the past 6 months)
* Moderately severe to severe depression symptoms (defined as a PHQ-9 total score greater than 14)
* Suicidal ideation (defined as a score greater than 0 on item 9 of the PHQ-9)
* Potential risky drinking behavior (defined as AUDIT-C total score greater than 4)
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Mean change from baseline in anxiety symptoms measured by the GAD-7 at Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6