TaVNS Improves the Symptoms of Patients With Moderate to Severe CP/CPPS

NCT ID: NCT06287970

Last Updated: 2025-11-28

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 68 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-03-15
• Study Completion Date: 2027-02-18

Brief Summary

This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for moderate to severe chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). This study is a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. A total of 68 patients with CP/CPPS will be recruited. After baseline assessment, the patients will be randomized into taVNS group (n = 34) and sham-taVNS group (n = 34). The intervention of two group will last for 4 weeks with a 8-week follow-up period after the treatment. The National Institutes of Health chronic Prostatitis Symptom Score index (NIH-CPSI), International Prostate Symptom Score Scale (IPSS), European quality of Life-5 Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D), self-rating anxiety Scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) will be assessed. The adverse events during the whole study will be recorded detailedly.

Conditions

Chronic Prostatitis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

taVNS Group

Bilateral auricular points of Xin (CO15) and Shen (CO10) will be stimulated by electrical stimulation. A disperse-dense wave will be used with a frequency of 4Hz/20Hz, a pulse width of 0.2ms will be set, and the current intensity will be modulated by the tolerance of the patient.

note: taVNS, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Intervention Type: DEVICE

In the experimental group, bilateral auricular point Xin (CO15) and auricular point Shen (CO10) will be stimulated, on where the vagus nerves distributed.

Sham-taVNS Group

Bilateral ear lobes will be stimulated by electrical stimulation. A disperse-dense wave will be used with a frequency of 4Hz/20Hz, a pulse width of 0.2ms and a current intensity of 0.1mA will be set.

note: taVNS, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Intervention Type: DEVICE

In the control group, bilateral earlobes will be stimulated with no vagus nerve distribution.

Interventions

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

In the experimental group, bilateral auricular point Xin (CO15) and auricular point Shen (CO10) will be stimulated, on where the vagus nerves distributed.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Sham Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

In the control group, bilateral earlobes will be stimulated with no vagus nerve distribution.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Consistent with the diagnostic criteria of CP/CPPS of EAU or CAU, the clinical manifestations were recurrent and persistent prostate pain accompanied by abnormal urination and psychiatric symptoms, without infection or other obvious pathological conditions. The pain symptoms were mainly manifested as pain in the surrounding tissues centered on the prostate, and pain, swelling or discomfort in the scrotum, testis, lower abdomen, perineum, lumbosacral area, and medial thigh. Abnormal urination was characterized by frequent urination, urgent urination, urination pain, urethral burning, residual urination or white discharge from the urethra at the end of urination or defecation in the morning. The neuropsychiatric symptoms included dizziness and tinnitus, insomnia and dreams, anxiety and depression, and even impotence, premature ejaculation, and spermatorrhea. Symptoms lasting more than 3 months in the last six months
• 18 ≤ Age ≤ 50 years old
• NIH-CPSI ≥15 (patients with moderate to severe CP/CPPS)
• Signed informed consent and voluntarily participated in the trial

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with other diseases that cause urinary symptoms were excluded: Such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, testicular and epididymal and spermatic cord diseases, overactive bladder, neurogenic bladder, interstitial cystitis, glandular cystitis, sexually transmitted diseases, bladder tumors such as carcinoma in situ, prostate cancer, urinary male reproductive system tuberculosis, anorectal diseases, lumbar diseases, central and peripheral neuropathy, etc
• Patients with severe diseases of the heart, liver, kidney, hematopoietic system and poor nutritional status
• Patients with severe mental and emotional disorders, who were unable to cooperate with the study
• Patients who have been treated with CP/CPPS regimen in the past 4 weeks

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Jiani Wu

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Jiani Wu

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Guang'anmen Hospita, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

China

Central Contacts

Jiani Wu

Role: CONTACT

jiani_wu@aliyun.com

+8613426116653

Facility Contacts

Jiani Wu

Role: primary

jiani_wu@aliyun.com

+8613426116653

Other Identifiers

2023-250-KY

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id