Acupuncture for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

August 31, 2026 updated by: Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine

Efficacy of Different Electroacupuncture Parameters for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common mental disorder characterized by persistent excessive worry, which seriously affects patients' quality of life. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been widely used in the clinical treatment of anxiety disorders, but the optimal stimulation parameters remain unclear. This study will adopt a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design to systematically compare the clinical efficacy of three different EA stimulation parameters (2 Hz continuous wave, 100 Hz continuous wave, and 2 Hz/100 Hz dense-disperse wave) in patients with GAD. Multidimensional outcome assessment tools will be used to comprehensively evaluate the therapeutic effects of different stimulation modes. The results of this study are expected to provide evidence-based reference for the selection of electroacupuncture parameters in the treatment of GAD, so as to optimize the clinical treatment regimen and improve the therapeutic effect.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
120

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Xiaoting Wu, Doctor
  • Phone Number: +8618196671636
  • Email: xiaotwu@163.com

Study Locations

  • China
    • Zhejiang
      • Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
        • 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Only those who meet the following four criteria simultaneously can be included in this study:

  1. Meet the diagnostic criteria for GAD;
  2. Between 18 and 60 years old;
  3. Conscious and able to communicate normally;
  4. Have good compliance, be willing to cooperate with the study, and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclude patients meeting any of the following criteria:

  1. Organic mental disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mania/other psychoses, alcohol/drug addiction, current drug use disorder/lifetime drug abuse, post-stroke/postpartum anxiety;
  2. History of suicidal behavior or severe suicidal tendency;
  3. Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
  4. Mental retardation, unable to cooperate;
  5. Electroacupuncture contraindications: bleeding tendency, coagulation dysfunction, internal metal implants;
  6. Participation in other clinical trials within 1 month.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Sham Comparator: sham electroacupuncture group (SEA group)
In the SEA group, shallow punctures were made at the points 1 cm outward/radially from bilateral Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Sishencong (EX-HN1) respectively, and then the power was cut off after connecting the electro - acupuncture device.Each treatment lasts 30 minutes, with 3 treatments per week for 4 consecutive weeks, totaling 12 treatments.
Device: sham electro-acupuncture
After connecting the electro - acupuncture device, the power was cut off for 30 minutes each time.Treatment was carried out 3 times a week for 4 consecutive weeks, a total of 12 times.
Other: manual acupuncture
Needles with a specification of 0.25×25mm were selected. Manual acupuncture is performed at the acupoints of Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Sishencong (EX-HN1).
Experimental: 2Hz continuous wave electroacupuncture group (2Hz EA group)
Needles are routinely inserted at bilateral Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Sishencong (EX-HN1). Electroacupuncture is applied to bilateral Shenmen-Neiguan pairs, with intensity adjusted to subject tolerance, and frequencies of 2Hz. 30 minutes per session, 3 sessions weekly for 4 consecutive weeks, 12 sessions total.
Other: manual acupuncture
Needles with a specification of 0.25×25mm were selected. Manual acupuncture is performed at the acupoints of Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Sishencong (EX-HN1).
Device: 2Hz electro-acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture device was connected to the bilateral Shenmen (HT7) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints. The intensity was set to the level that the subjects could tolerate, and the frequencies were 2Hz for 30 minutes each time. Treatment was carried out 3 times a week for 4 consecutive weeks, a total of 12 times.
Experimental: 100Hz continuous wave electroacupuncture group (100Hz EA group)
Needles are routinely inserted at bilateral Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Sishencong (EX-HN1). Electroacupuncture is applied to bilateral Shenmen-Neiguan pairs, with intensity adjusted to subject tolerance, and frequencies of 100Hz. 30 minutes per session, 3 sessions weekly for 4 consecutive weeks, 12 sessions total.
Other: manual acupuncture
Needles with a specification of 0.25×25mm were selected. Manual acupuncture is performed at the acupoints of Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Sishencong (EX-HN1).
Device: 100Hz electro-acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture device was connected to the bilateral Shenmen (HT7) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints. The intensity was set to the level that the subjects could tolerate, and the frequencies were 100Hz for 30 minutes each time. Treatment was carried out 3 times a week for 4 consecutive weeks, a total of 12 times.
Experimental: 2Hz/100Hz dense-disperse wave electroacupuncture group (2Hz/100Hz EA group)
Needles are routinely inserted at bilateral Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Sishencong (EX-HN1). Electroacupuncture is applied to bilateral Shenmen-Neiguan pairs, with intensity adjusted to subject tolerance, and frequencies of 100Hz. 30 minutes per session, 3 sessions weekly for 4 consecutive weeks, 12 sessions total.
Other: manual acupuncture
Needles with a specification of 0.25×25mm were selected. Manual acupuncture is performed at the acupoints of Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Sishencong (EX-HN1).
Device: 2Hz/100Hz electro-acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture device was connected to the bilateral Shenmen (HT7) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints. The intensity was set to the level that the subjects could tolerate, and the frequencies were 2Hz/100Hz for 30 minutes each time. Treatment was carried out 3 times a week for 4 consecutive weeks, a total of 12 times.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
the score of Hamilton anxiety rating scale, HAMA
Time Frame: week 0, week 4, week 8 and week 16 after enrollment
This scale consists of 14 items. Trained physicians or assessors conduct a semi-structured interview to rate the subject's recent anxiety symptoms. The items cover two major dimensions: psychic anxiety (e.g., tension, fear) and somatic anxiety (e.g., muscle tension, cardiovascular symptoms).A higher score indicates more severe symptoms, with 7 set as the cut-off value.
week 0, week 4, week 8 and week 16 after enrollment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
the score of Zung self-rating anxiety scale, SAS
Time Frame: week 0, week 4, week 8 and week 16 after enrollment
This rating scale contains 20 items, and subjects complete the self-assessment independently without external interference. The standard score ranges from 25 to 100. A higher SAS score indicates more severe symptoms, with 53 set as the cut-off value.
week 0, week 4, week 8 and week 16 after enrollment
the score of Pittsburgh sleep quality index, PSQI
Time Frame: week 0, week 4, week 8 and week 16 after enrollment
PSQI is commonly used to assess the sleep quality of participants over the past month. The total score ranges from 0 to 21. A higher PSQI score indicates poorer sleep quality, with a cut-off value of 7.
week 0, week 4, week 8 and week 16 after enrollment
the score of Short form-12 health survey, SF-12
Time Frame: week 0, week 4, week 8 and week 16 after enrollment
This scale consists of 12 items, which is used to evaluate the recent health status of subjects, covering dimensions including physical function, pain, vitality, and social function. A higher score indicates better health status, and a standard score below 50 indicates that the health status is below the average level.
week 0, week 4, week 8 and week 16 after enrollment

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Details of all adverse events will be recorded on the Case Report Form (CRF). Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0 after the completion of the trial.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
acupuncture compliance rate
Time Frame: 4 weeks after treatment
At the end of the acupuncture intervention (end of week 4), compliance will be evaluated with the formula: Compliance Rate = (actual treatment times/total treatment times) *100%.
4 weeks after treatment
the level of Heart Rate Variability
Time Frame: week 0 and week 6 after enrollment
After obtaining the consent of the subjects, the level of Heart Rate Variability data will be collected before and after the intervention to further explore the anti - anxiety mechanism of electroacupuncture.
week 0 and week 6 after enrollment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 30, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 24, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 31, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 2, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 31, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • MR-33-25-070485

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

Regarding the scope of data sharing and the rules for usage authorization, the parties involved in the research cooperation are still in communication and negotiation, and no final decision has been made yet.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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