Acupuncture for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Acupuncture Diagnosis and Treatment of DSM-IV PTSD

The purpose of this study is to evaluate acupuncture as a treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and to correlate the diagnosis of PTSD with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnostic patterns.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Procedure: Acupuncture

Detailed Description

This study will evaluate: 1) the TCM diagnostic differentiation patterns of people who have PTSD as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th edition; 2) if an acupuncture treatment approach is acceptable to people with PTSD; and 3) if an acupuncture treatment approach is associated with a reduction in PTSD symptoms that is comparable to that of standard treatments. Because symptoms of depression, insomnia, and pain are often associated with PTSD, we will also evaluate the potential benefit of an acupuncture approach to depression, insomnia, and pain symptoms in people with PTSD.

Patients in this study will be randomized to one of three groups. Group A will receive acupuncture therapy. Group B will receive standard Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Group C is a control group and will receive no treatment. Patients in Groups A and B will undergo a total of 24 hours of therapy over the 3 month study course. All patients will have five nontherapeutic study visits; these visits will address diagnosis and assessment. Study visits will include assessments of PTSD symptoms, sleep symptoms, and level of impairment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New Mexico
    • Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, 87131
      • University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center- Department of Psychiatry

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria

• DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD
• Stage I PTSD symptoms
• PTSD Symptom Scale-Self Report (PSS-SR) score > 16
• Meets PSS-SR diagnostic criteria

Exclusion Criteria

• Stage I substance abuse and/or dependence in the past 6 months
• Psychotic disorder
• Inability to commit to treatment or wait-list conditions
• Current treatment specifically for PTSD
• Certain medical conditions, including thyroid disease, class IV heart failure, active cancer treatment, and uncontrolled diabetes
• Pregnant
• Use of benzodiazepines, narcotics, opiates, narcotic antagonists, sleep medication, muscle relaxants, analgesics, or sedatives.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2002
• Study Completion: May 1, 2004

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 26, 2003
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2003
• First Posted (Estimate): February 27, 2003

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): August 18, 2006
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 17, 2006
• Last Verified: July 1, 2006

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Acupuncture; Medicine, Chinese Traditional
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• Other Study ID Numbers: R21AT001229-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)