The Effects of Chiropractic on Adults With Depression

NCT ID: NCT07260045

Last Updated: 2025-12-18

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

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-03-01

Study Completion Date

2026-03-30

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the feasibility of the study design in preparation for a future clinical trial examining chiropractic care for adults with mild to moderate depression. We aim to determine whether the study procedures function as intended, including the ability to recruit, retain, and engage participants, as well as whether the intervention is implemented as planned.

The main questions it aims to answer is:

1. Can sufficient eligible participants be enrolled within the planned timeframe?
2. Is there any retention of participant throughout the study duration and the factors contributing to ongoing participation?
3. Can participants adhere to pre-treatment instructions and protocols before their first check-up?
4. Can participants attend and complete all assessments and chiropractic sessions?
5. Can participants fulfill all required study activities without excessive burden?
6. Can chiropractors strictly follow chiropractic adjustments only, without offering any additional treatments?

Researchers will compare adults with depression on the waitlist group to see if chiropractic care effects on adults with depression.

Participants will

* Perform resting state Electrocardiography (ECG)
* Perform resting state Electroencephalography (EEG)
* Perform Event-related potential (ERP) à Auditory and visual stimuli tests
* Complete Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs)
* COMPASS-31
* PROMIS-29
* PROMIS-Cog-8
* Perceived Stress Scale
* Depression Short Form 8a
* Complete Assessment of Acceptability
* Complete Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
* Receive 6 weeks of chiropractic care treatment

Detailed Description

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The investigators shall recruit 20 participants for each group, who are currently aged between 18 and 65 years and have mild to moderate depression which is measured by T score.

Conditions

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Depression Disorder

Keywords

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Depression Waitlist Chiropractic Care

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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Waitlist Group (WL)

After the 6-week lab assessments, the participants in the waitlist (WL) group will be offered 6 weeks of chiropractic care.

Group Type OTHER

Chiropractic Care

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants of the treatment group will be randomly assigned to chiropractic care for 6 weeks. Participants will have their upper cervical spine (C1/C2) assessed for the presence of vertebral subluxations per the chiropractor's normal and customary procedures.

Intervention Group

Within the 6-week lab assessments, the participants in the intervention group will receive 6 weeks of chiropractic care.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Chiropractic Care

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants of the treatment group will be randomly assigned to chiropractic care for 6 weeks. Participants will have their upper cervical spine (C1/C2) assessed for the presence of vertebral subluxations per the chiropractor's normal and customary procedures.

Interventions

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Chiropractic Care

Participants of the treatment group will be randomly assigned to chiropractic care for 6 weeks. Participants will have their upper cervical spine (C1/C2) assessed for the presence of vertebral subluxations per the chiropractor's normal and customary procedures.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 18-65 years of age
* Mild (T-score 55-59) to moderate (T-score 60-69) depression, as measured by the PROMIS® Depression - Short Form 8a, an 8-question survey that assesses symptoms like sadness and hopelessness.

Exclusion Criteria

* Severe suicidal risk
* Diagnosed with any untreated or uncontrolled externalizing disorders (like substance use or antisocial disorder) or thought disorders (like schizophrenia, paranoid personality, or bipolar).
* Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, or cervical spine instability
* Has hearing impairments (task involves auditory stimuli)
* Currently pregnant (if applicable)
* Chiropractic adjustment within the past 2 weeks
* Scalp injuries or surgeries within the past 3 months
* Prescribed short-acting benzodiazepines, which include midazolam \& triazolam
* Current litigation related to a physical, health-related injury.
* Diagnosed heart conditions, including pacemakers.
* Living with and/or caring for someone with a diagnosed neuropsychiatric disorder
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Life University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Center for Chiropractic Research

Marietta, Georgia, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Daekiara Smith-Ireland, MPH, DrPH

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 17704262636

Email: [email protected]

Tahamina Principal Investigator, MBBS, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Daekiara Smith-Ireland, MPH, DrPH

Role: primary

Role: backup

Other Identifiers

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I-0035

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id