Electro-acupuncture for Long Covid Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

NCT ID: NCT05890508

Last Updated: 2024-05-07

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

150 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-03-01

Study Completion Date

2026-04-30

Brief Summary

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In this study, a 16-week randomized, sham-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial will be conducted to to investigate the efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture for treatment of long covid neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Detailed Description

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This is a prospective, randomized, sham-controlled, double-blinded and multiple center trial on electro-acupuncture for treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in long covid patients. A total of 150 participants will be randomly assigned to the electro-acupuncture and the sham-control group with 1:1 ratio. Both groups will receive 32 sessions of interventions during 16-week treatment duration (2 session per week), and will be followed up for 8 weeks.

Conditions

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Long Covid19 Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Electro-acupuncture

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Outcome Assessors
All patients and the investigators including the research assessors, the statistician, and the researchers interacting with the patients except the one who conducts the acupuncture therapy will be blinded.

Study Groups

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Electro-acupuncture group

The electro-acupuncture intervention will be conducted for 2 session per week during 16-week treatment duration, and will be followed up for 8 weeks. In this study, 7 acupoints are chosen:GV20(Baihui), EX-HN1(Sishencong), EX-HN3(Yintang), SP6(Sanyinjiao), ST36(Zusanli), ST40(Fenglong), and LR3(Taichong). The puncture is made in accordance with the standards of traditional Chinese medicine, to a depth of 1 to 3 cm depending on the thickness of the local tissues. The acupoints are subjected to 2-5 Hz electroacupuncture from an electroacupuncture device at an intensity (5 to 10 mA) that can produce a muscle twitch acceptable to the participant.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Acupuncture

Intervention Type DEVICE

Disposable acupuncture needles (0.20 mm in diameter) are are used in the study. The acupoints are GV20(Baihui), EX-HN1(Sishencong), EX-HN3(Yintang), SP6(Sanyinjiao), ST36(Zusanli), ST40(Fenglong), and LR3(Taichong). Electrical stimulation will be delivered with waves at 2-5 Hz from an electroacupuncture device. The needles will be retained in position for 30 minutes.

Sham-acupuncture group

For subjects assigned to the sham control group, Streitberger's non-invasive acupuncture needles (Gauge 8 x 1.2/ 0.30 x 30mm) will be applied to serve as a sham control at the corresponding non-acupoints, leave 0.5 cun from the corresponding acupoints, with the same stimulation modality. Addtionally, the stimulation will be a "pseudo stimulation", which will be given by connecting the needle to the incorrect output socket of the electrical acupuncture stimulation instrument. The credibility and validity of this system have been well demonstrated.

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Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham-acupuncture

Intervention Type DEVICE

Streitberger's non-invasive acupuncture needles (Gauge 8 x 1.2"/ 0.30 x 30mm) will be applied to serve as a sham control at the same acupoints with the same stimulation modality and then connecting the needle to the incorrect output socket of the electrical acupuncture stimulation instrument. The sham points are "pseudo stimulation".

Interventions

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Acupuncture

Disposable acupuncture needles (0.20 mm in diameter) are are used in the study. The acupoints are GV20(Baihui), EX-HN1(Sishencong), EX-HN3(Yintang), SP6(Sanyinjiao), ST36(Zusanli), ST40(Fenglong), and LR3(Taichong). Electrical stimulation will be delivered with waves at 2-5 Hz from an electroacupuncture device. The needles will be retained in position for 30 minutes.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham-acupuncture

Streitberger's non-invasive acupuncture needles (Gauge 8 x 1.2"/ 0.30 x 30mm) will be applied to serve as a sham control at the same acupoints with the same stimulation modality and then connecting the needle to the incorrect output socket of the electrical acupuncture stimulation instrument. The sham points are "pseudo stimulation".

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* adults over 18 years of age to 80;
* history of SARS-CoV-2 PCR+ at least 4 weeks prior to study entry; SARS-CoV-2 negative (PCR) at study entry;
* at least one persistent neurological symptom (impaired concentration, headache, sensory disturbances, or depression, or "brain fog") that began around the time of the acute COVID-19;
* willing and able to consent, complete all assessment and study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria

* any chronic or remote neurological disorder (i.e. stroke, head trauma, epilepsy, tumor);
* intellectual disability pre-existing to the Covid-19 episode;cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmia, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and patients with cardiac pacemakers,
* acute brain injury or acute encephalopathy from another aetiology than covid (e.g., sepsis, liver or renal failure, alcohol or drug withdrawal, drug toxicity);
* documented pre-existing history of psychiatric illness, including substance abuse;
* open-heart cardiac surgery or cardiac arrest during the last 6 months;
* current hospitalization;
* pregnant women.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Hong Kong Baptist University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Zhong Lidan

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Dong Jue Wei, MD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Hong Kong Baptist University

Locations

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Zhong Lidan

Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Hong Kong

Central Contacts

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Linda Zhong, MD., Ph.D

Role: CONTACT

852 34116523

Facility Contacts

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Zhong Lidan, Ph.D, MD

Role: primary

References

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Other Identifiers

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2021HMRF

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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