Brain Connectome for Acupuncture-treated Migraine Patients

NCT ID: NCT04157192

Last Updated: 2023-04-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

40 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-05-27

Study Completion Date

2024-10-31

Brief Summary

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Acupuncture has been a means of treating headaches and migraine since 2002 and is now a World Health Organisation-recognized prophylactic treatment for migraine. Brain activation/de-activation via acupuncture modifies the haemodynamic responses in the brain which may impact the sensorial, cognitive and affective dimensions of pain. Randomized studies on patients suffering from aura-free migraine have shown that the painkilling effect of regular acupuncture sessions on the cerebral substratum, compared with simulated sham-type acupuncture, can reduce the frequency of bouts of migraine, number of days with headaches and also their intensity.

Modifications to the white matter (WM) and grey matter (GM) occur after repeated sessions of acupuncture treatment for pain and these are observable via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is a very sensitive technique and often used to detect functional and structural brain changes.

Detailed Description

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Since 2002, acupuncture has been employed as a method for treating headaches and migraine. It is recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and is now part of the prophylactic treatments for migraine. Brain activations/de-activation via acupuncture lead to a modification of haemodynamic responses in the brain which may impact the sensorial, cognitive and affective dimensions of pain. Randomized studies on patients who suffer from migraine without aura have shown that the painkilling effect of repeated acupuncture sessions on the cerebral substratum, compared with simulated sham-type acupuncture, make it possible to reduce the frequency of bouts of migraine, the number of days of headaches, and the intensity of the bouts.

Following repeated sessions of acupuncture treatment for pain, modifications occur in the white matter (WM) and in the grey matter (GM) and these may be observed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which is a highly sensitive technique and very often used to detect functional brain changes and/or subtle abnormalities.

Conditions

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Migraine Without Aura Acupuncture Therapy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

40 patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups (1) The Interventional Group: 20 Patients will receive 5 real acupuncture sessions each spaced 15 days apart. At the first and last sessions of acupuncture, an MRI scan will be performed before and after the acupuncture session and (2) The Placebo Group : 20 patients will receive 5 sham sessions of acupuncture (i.e. using a simulated acupuncture technique) each spaced 15 days apart. At the first and last sham sessions, an MRI scan will be performed before and after the sham acupuncture session.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors
The patient is unaware of the study (and whether he/she is receiving the placebo or not).

The imager is also unaware of whether the patient has had sham or real acupuncture.

Study Groups

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Patients receiving real acupuncture treatment

Treatment with needle insertion

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Real acupuncture

Intervention Type OTHER

The patient will be treated for migraine with real acupuncture.

Patients receiving sham acupuncture treatment

Treatment without needle insertion

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham acupuncture (placebo group)

Intervention Type OTHER

Sham acupuncture is used as a control in scientific studies to test the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of various disorders, in this case, migraine. In this study, the subjects will not know whether they are getting true acupuncture or not. In the placebo group, the acupuncture needles will not actually be inserted into the skin. Placebo needles consisting of a sliding tube and a retractible needle are applied to the acupunture reference point (marked by a pastille stuck on the skin). The patient should not be able to feel the difference between real acupuncture and sham acupuncture.

Interventions

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Real acupuncture

The patient will be treated for migraine with real acupuncture.

Intervention Type OTHER

Sham acupuncture (placebo group)

Sham acupuncture is used as a control in scientific studies to test the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of various disorders, in this case, migraine. In this study, the subjects will not know whether they are getting true acupuncture or not. In the placebo group, the acupuncture needles will not actually be inserted into the skin. Placebo needles consisting of a sliding tube and a retractible needle are applied to the acupunture reference point (marked by a pastille stuck on the skin). The patient should not be able to feel the difference between real acupuncture and sham acupuncture.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* All patients with two to eight bouts of migraine without an aura per month
* All patient aged (≥) 18 to (≤) 60 years old
* All patients who have not had a bout of migraine in the last 24 hours
* All patients who have given free informed consent and have signed the consent form.
* All patients who are affiliated to or beneficiaries of a health insurance scheme
* All patients available for a two-month follow-up

Exclusion Criteria

* All patients with migraine which is secondary to a neurological, neuropsychiatric, or vascular disorder
* All patients suffering from diabetes
* All patients with a past history of alcohol or drug abuse
* All patients with contraindications for an MRI scan
* All patients on antidepressants or Botox.
* All patients already taking part in Category 1 research involving the human person
* All patients on an exclusion period determined by another study
* All patients placed under judicial protection, guardianship, or supervision
* All patients for whom it is impossible to give the subject clear information
* All patients who are pregnant, about to give birth or breastfeeding
* All patient who have received botulinum toxin in the past year
* All patient who have undergone antidepressant treatment in the last 2 months
* All patient who have started a background migraine treatment for less than 3 months
* All patient who have more than 14 migraine days per month
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Anissa MEGZARI, Mme.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

CHU de Nîmes (Nîmes University Hospital)

Locations

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Marc FREARD

Nîmes, , France

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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France

Central Contacts

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Marc FREARD, Dr.

Role: CONTACT

06.19.42.18.37

Fabricio PEREIRA, Dr.

Role: CONTACT

07.85.92.64.02

Facility Contacts

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Marc FREARD

Role: primary

0619421837

Other Identifiers

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RCB : 2019-A00588-49

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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