An Acupuncture Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Study on Chronic Pain: Response Reliability and Dose Effect

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

44 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2010-01-31

Study Completion Date

2014-11-30

Brief Summary

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In this proposal, we plan to dynamically investigate brain response to verum acupuncture (of two different "doses") and placebo acupuncture, using a paradigm that approximates clinical acupuncture practice across multiple treatment sessions in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. This proposal aims to: 1) characterize session-to-session brain responses to verum / sham acupuncture treatment (reliability of response) for OA patients, and 2) investigate how different "doses" of acupuncture influence brain response and acupuncture efficacy (impact of dose). The findings of this project will deepen our biological understanding on why and how acupuncture can treat chronic pain and what happens in the brain during the multiple-session acupuncture treatment.

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Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Osteoarthritis, Knee

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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High dose acupuncture

six needle applied during acupuncture

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

acupuncture

Intervention Type DEVICE

patient will receive high dose, low dose or sham acupuncture treatment.

Low dose acupuncture

two needles will be applied.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

acupuncture

Intervention Type DEVICE

patient will receive high dose, low dose or sham acupuncture treatment.

placebo acupuncture

sham acupuncture treatment will be applied

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

acupuncture

Intervention Type DEVICE

patient will receive high dose, low dose or sham acupuncture treatment.

Interventions

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acupuncture

patient will receive high dose, low dose or sham acupuncture treatment.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Volunteers 40-70 years of age.
2. Meet the Classification Criteria of the American College of Rheumatology for osteoarthritis of the left / right knee for at least the past 3 months, as determined by the referring physician.
3. Radiographic evidence of Grade 2 or 3 knee OA using the Kellgren-Lawrence Scale \[78, 85-87\].
4. Patients must have moderate or greater clinically significant pain on most days during the past month (more than 15 days out of 30, of average daily pain of \>3/10) in the left or right knee.
5. At least a 10th grade English-reading level; English can be a second language provided that the patients feel they understand all the questions used in the assessment measures.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Any interventional procedure for knee pain, including corticosteroid injections (within 6 months, \[88\]) to the knee.
2. Prior acupuncture treatment for any condition. Because we are using a placebo needle as a control, acupuncture-naive patients are necessary to maximize the benefits of blinding and to control expectancy.
3. The intent to undergo surgery during the time of involvement in the study.
4. Presence of any illness or medication use that is judged to interfere with the trial. For example: skin irritations around the knee such as psoriasis; bleeding disorders or anticoagulant use that would be contraindications for acupuncture; opioids or benzodiazepines, which may alter pain sensitivity and BOLD response.
5. Knee pain due to other causes, such as inflammation or malignancy, other pain disorders that may refer pain to the leg, OA of ipsilateral hip, diagnosis of RA.
6. Non-ambulatory status.
7. History of cardiac, respiratory, or nervous system disease that, in the investigator's judgment, precludes participation in the study because of a heightened potential for adverse outcome. For example: asthma or claustrophobia.
8. Presence of any contraindications to fMRI scanning. For example: cardiac pacemaker, metal implants, fear of closed spaces, pregnancy.

Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No