Chronic CoughFAST-COUGHNCT07566117
Feasibility, Acceptability, and Safety Trial of Brief, Breath Control-Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Adults With Chronic Cough
A study testing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in people with Chronic Cough, run by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study is a prospective, single-center, single-arm pilot trial. The primary research question is whether brief, breath control-focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is feasible, acceptable, and safe in adults with chronic cough. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Cough
- What is being tested?
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2026to 30 Jun 2029
- 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 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Confirmed patient with UNC Health electronic medical record number (MRN) via medical chart review
- 18-80 years of age via medical chart review
- Completed outpatient clinical encounter within the prior 12 months with a provider in pulmonary medicine, gastroenterology, otolaryngology, and/or allergy at UNC Health via medical chart review, with documentation that chronic cough (lasting 8 weeks or longer) was listed as one of the reasons for the visit, with terminology such as, but not limited to chronic, ongoing, recurrent, persistent, lingering, refractory, longstanding, constant, continual, continuous, prolonged, intermittent, frequent, repetitive, unresolved, non-resolving, habitual, troublesome, bothersome, unmanaged, unexplained, idiopathic, progressive, worsening, treatment-resistant, and/or intractable
- Documented interpretation by provider of normal chest imaging, defined as a chest radiograph (X-ray) or computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest without clinically significant abnormalities contributing to chronic cough, within the prior 12 months obtained as part of the evaluation for chronic cough via medical chart review
- Documented judgment of provider within the prior 12 months that chronic cough was not primarily attributable to untreated or inadequately treated pulmonary, gastroesophageal, or sinonasal condition(s) via medical chart review
- Chronic cough of at least moderate severity (i.e., moderate, severe, very severe) via self-report using a screening questionnaire
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- Score ≤ 14 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), indicating no greater than moderate depressive symptom severity (maximum score: 27), via self-report using a screening questionnaire
- Score of ≤ 14 on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), indicating no greater than moderate generalized anxiety symptoms (maximum score: 21), via self-report using a screening questionnaire
- Score of ≤ 10 on the Distress Questionnaire-5 (DQ5), indicating no elevated psychological distress (maximum score: 25), via self-report using a screening questionnaire
- Agree to participate in a program to learn new ways to manage chronic cough for 4 weeks via self-report using a screening questionnaire
- Able to participate in study activities with a facilitator scheduled during standard weekday business hours via self-report using a screening questionnaire
- Access to reliable internet connection and device capable of videoconferencing (e.g., computer, tablet, smartphone) via self-report using a screening questionnaire
Who cannot join
- Current smoking status via medical chart review
- Current use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor medication(s) via medical chart review, including Benazepril/brand name: Lotensin; Captopril/brand name: Capoten; Enalapril/brand name: Vasotec; Fosinopril/brand name: Monopril; Lisinopril/brand name: Prinivil, Zestril; Moexipril/brand name: Univasc; Perindopril/brand name: Aceon; Quinapril/brand name: Accupril; Ramipril/brand name: Altace; and/or Trandolapril/brand name: Mavik
- Unable to read, understand, and speak English without an interpreter via medical chart review
- Documented cognitive, intellectual, developmental, or neurological conditions that could interfere with reliable self-report, comprehension, or completion of study procedures via medical chart review
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
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599
Carolyn K. Novaleski, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, 919-962-5965, carolyn_novaleski@med.unc.edu
About this study
Official title: Identifying Predictors of Treatment Response to Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Interventions in Cough Hypersensitivity Syndrome
This study is a prospective, single-center, single-arm pilot trial. The primary research question is whether brief, breath control-focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is feasible, acceptable, and safe in adults with chronic cough.
- Conditions
- Chronic Cough
- Being tested
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Keywords
- chronic cough, cough, cough hypersensitivity syndrome
- Medical subject headings
- Chronic Cough, Cough, cough hypersensitivity syndrome
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Behavioural
Brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combined with breath control techniques. Treatment delivered once per week for 30 minutes each session for total of 4 weeks
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) | Experimental | Brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combined with breath control techniques Receives: Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Recruitment rate
Proportion of participants in the target population expected to enroll in the study (numerator) out of all eligible individuals identified (denominator)
Measured: From screening and recruitment to enrollment
Retention rate
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study expected to complete the follow-up assessments (numerator) out of all participants initially enrolled in the study (denominator)
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Adherence rate of session attendance
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study expected to attend sessions for at least 24 minutes (80%) of the 30-minute sessions (numerator) out of all participants initially enrolled in the study (denominator)
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Ordinal scale of adherence to self-directed activities
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study expected to complete more than half (50%) of the self-directed activities (numerator) out of all participants initially enrolled in the study (denominator)
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Likert scale of agreement for cough-related adherence barriers
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study who completed the follow-up assessments expected to strongly agree or agree that each of 11 cough-related items was a barrier to doing in the program
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Likert scale of agreement for acceptability
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study who completed the follow-up assessments expected to strongly agree or agree that the program was acceptable
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Likert scale of agreement for appropriateness
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study who completed the follow-up assessments expected to strongly agree or agree that the program was a good fit for people with chronic cough
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Likert scale of agreement for burden
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study who completed the follow-up assessments expected to strongly agree or agree that the time and work the program took was reasonable
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Distress Questionnaire-5 (DQ5)
Expected means of general levels of psychological distress at baseline and follow-up assessments, expected standard deviations, and proportion of participants who completed the follow-up assessments expected to have an increased score of 1 or greater in general levels of psychological distress
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Binary scale for monitoring program-specific psychological distress
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study expected to report experiencing increased psychological distress specifically related to the program
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Adverse events (AEs)
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study expected to report one or more adverse events (AEs) and total number of AEs reported across all participants
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Secondary outcomes (4)
Leicester Cough Questionnaire
The Leicester Cough Questionnaire is a 19-item questionnaire that measures how chronic cough affects quality of life over the past two weeks. It includes three domains: physical, psychological, and social. Each item is rated on a seven-point Likert scale ranging from "all of the time" to "none of the time." Total score range is between 3-21, with lower scores indicating a worse outcome. Expected means of cough-related quality of life at baseline and follow-up assessments, mean score differences between baseline and follow-up assessments, and expected standard deviations
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II
The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II is a 7-item questionnaire that measures psychological flexibility by assessing the ability to be present and accept internal feelings and thoughts. Each item is rated on a seven-point Likert scale ranging from "never true" to "always true." Total score range is between 7-49, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome. Expected means of psychological flexibility at baseline and follow-up assessments, mean score differences between baseline and follow-up assessments, and expected standard deviations
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire
The Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire is a 15-item questionnaire that measures experiential avoidance by assessing the tendency to avoid unpleasant feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Each item is rated on a six-point Likert scale ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree." Total score range is between 15-90, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome. Expected means of experiential avoidance at baseline and follow-up assessments, mean score differences between baseline and follow-up assessments, and expected standard deviations
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised
The Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised is a 12-item questionnaire that measures a broad concept of mindfulness. Each item is rated on a four-point Likert scale ranging from "rarely/not at all" to "almost always." Total score range is between 12-48, with lower scores indicating a worse outcome. Expected means of mindfulness at baseline and follow-up assessments, mean score differences between baseline and follow-up assessments, and expected standard deviations
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 May 2026
- Study start1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Jun 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic CoughStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of North Carolina, Chapel HillThe 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
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Carolyn Novaleski, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Principal investigator, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07566117
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 25-1846
- Other IDs
- K23HL169934
- Acronym
- FAST-COUGH
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) will include demographic and clinical characteristics extracted from the electronic medical records. Primary outcome measures (e.g., feasibility, acceptability) and secondary outcome measures (e.g., cough-related quality of life, psychological flexibility) will be shared. All data will be de-identified prior to sharing, with removal of direct identifiers and use of coded study IDs.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Identifying Predictors of Treatment Response to Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Interventions in Cough Hypersensitivity Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07566117
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FAST-COUGH / 25-1846
- Conditions
- Chronic Cough
- Keywords
- chronic cough, cough, cough hypersensitivity syndrome
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of North Carolina, Chapel HillUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 May 2026 (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.
This study is a prospective, single-center, single-arm pilot trial. The primary research question is whether brief, breath control-focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is feasible, acceptable, and safe in adults with chronic cough.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) | Experimental | Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combined with breath control techniques |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Confirmed patient with UNC Health electronic medical record number (MRN) via medical chart review
- 18-80 years of age via medical chart review
- Completed outpatient clinical encounter within the prior 12 months with a provider in pulmonary medicine, gastroenterology, otolaryngology, and/or allergy at UNC Health via medical chart review, with documentation that chronic cough (lasting 8 weeks or longer) was listed as one of the reasons for the visit, with terminology such as, but not limited to chronic, ongoing, recurrent, persistent, lingering, refractory, longstanding, constant, continual, continuous, prolonged, intermittent, frequent, repetitive, unresolved, non-resolving, habitual, troublesome, bothersome, unmanaged, unexplained, idiopathic, progressive, worsening, treatment-resistant, and/or intractable
- Documented interpretation by provider of normal chest imaging, defined as a chest radiograph (X-ray) or computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest without clinically significant abnormalities contributing to chronic cough, within the prior 12 months obtained as part of the evaluation for chronic cough via medical chart review
- Documented judgment of provider within the prior 12 months that chronic cough was not primarily attributable to untreated or inadequately treated pulmonary, gastroesophageal, or sinonasal condition(s) via medical chart review
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Current smoking status via medical chart review
- Current use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor medication(s) via medical chart review, including Benazepril/brand name: Lotensin; Captopril/brand name: Capoten; Enalapril/brand name: Vasotec; Fosinopril/brand name: Monopril; Lisinopril/brand name: Prinivil, Zestril; Moexipril/brand name: Univasc; Perindopril/brand name: Aceon; Quinapril/brand name: Accupril; Ramipril/brand name: Altace; and/or Trandolapril/brand name: Mavik
- Unable to read, understand, and speak English without an interpreter via medical chart review
- Documented cognitive, intellectual, developmental, or neurological conditions that could interfere with reliable self-report, comprehension, or completion of study procedures via medical chart review
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combined with breath control techniques. Treatment delivered once per week for 30 minutes each session for total of 4 weeks | Behavioural | Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
Primary outcome
Recruitment rate
Time frame: From screening and recruitment to enrollment
Proportion of participants in the target population expected to enroll in the study (numerator) out of all eligible individuals identified (denominator)
Retention rate
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study expected to complete the follow-up assessments (numerator) out of all participants initially enrolled in the study (denominator)
Adherence rate of session attendance
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study expected to attend sessions for at least 24 minutes (80%) of the 30-minute sessions (numerator) out of all participants initially enrolled in the study (denominator)
Ordinal scale of adherence to self-directed activities
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study expected to complete more than half (50%) of the self-directed activities (numerator) out of all participants initially enrolled in the study (denominator)
Likert scale of agreement for cough-related adherence barriers
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study who completed the follow-up assessments expected to strongly agree or agree that each of 11 cough-related items was a barrier to doing in the program
Likert scale of agreement for acceptability
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study who completed the follow-up assessments expected to strongly agree or agree that the program was acceptable
Likert scale of agreement for appropriateness
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study who completed the follow-up assessments expected to strongly agree or agree that the program was a good fit for people with chronic cough
Likert scale of agreement for burden
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study who completed the follow-up assessments expected to strongly agree or agree that the time and work the program took was reasonable
Distress Questionnaire-5 (DQ5)
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Expected means of general levels of psychological distress at baseline and follow-up assessments, expected standard deviations, and proportion of participants who completed the follow-up assessments expected to have an increased score of 1 or greater in general levels of psychological distress
Binary scale for monitoring program-specific psychological distress
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study expected to report experiencing increased psychological distress specifically related to the program
Adverse events (AEs)
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Proportion of participants enrolled in the study expected to report one or more adverse events (AEs) and total number of AEs reported across all participants
4 secondary outcomes
Leicester Cough Questionnaire
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 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 2 Nov 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data (IPD) will include demographic and clinical characteristics extracted from the electronic medical records. Primary outcome measures (e.g., feasibility, acceptability) and secondary outcome measures (e.g., cough-related quality of life, psychological flexibility) will be shared. All data will be de-identified prior to sharing, with removal of direct identifiers and use of coded study IDs.
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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.
Carolyn Novaleski, Ph.D., CCC-SLP principal investigator
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in people with Chronic Cough, run by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 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 12 inclusion and 4 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 2 Nov 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 Carolyn K. Novaleski, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (919-962-5965, carolyn_novaleski@med.unc.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Recruitment rate (time frame: From screening and recruitment to enrollment). The study lists 11 primary outcomes in all. 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 2 Nov 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.