Acupuncture for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Acupuncture for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Trial

The purpose of this study is to determine whether acupuncture is effective in reducing the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Acupuncture

Detailed Description

IBS is a disorder that affects colon functioning. Although it does not cause permanent harm or lead to more serious conditions, IBS can cause a great deal of discomfort and distress. The effectiveness of acupuncture in treating various conditions has been investigated in numerous studies. However, little is known about acupuncture's efficacy in treating IBS. This study will determine whether acupuncture can alleviate the symptoms of IBS, including pain relief with defecation, changes in stools, and changes in the frequency of bowel movements.

Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to receive bi-weekly sessions of either active or placebo acupuncture or no treatment for 6 weeks. Study visits will occur at study start, Week 3, and Week 6 (study completion). At each study visit, blood collection will occur to measure levels of cortisol, a stress hormone associated with IBS. Participants will also complete questionnaires about their IBS symptoms. Selected participants will be interviewed at each visit, in order to determine whether participants' interpretations and understanding of IBS influences their response to treatment. Any subject who does not receive active acupuncture during the trial is eligible for 6 free acupuncture treatments after the study is over.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 287
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
      • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, General Clinical Research Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Irritable bowel syndrome of moderate severity for at least 12 weeks within 1 year prior to study entry
• Colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy/air contrast barium enema within 5 years prior to study entry
• Able to walk
• Able and willing to cooperate with the study
• Sufficient knowledge of English to be able to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medications that affect the gastrointestinal tract or visceral sensation, unless the participant is on a stable dose for at least 1 month prior to study entry and for the duration of the study
• History of severe or intractable IBS
• History of acupuncture treatment
• Score between 37 and 150 on the Functional Bowel Disorder Severity Index (FBDSI)
• Any concomitant bowel problem that would interfere with the study
• History of laxative abuse
• Abdominal surgery, with the exception of uncomplicated removal of the appendix, uterus, or gallbladder more than 6 months prior to study entry
• History of metabolic or inflammatory disease that may affect bowel movement
• History of significant psychiatric, neurological, metabolic, hepatic, renal, infectious, hematological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, or pulmonary illness. Participants who are stable for more than 1 year with conditions that will not interfere with the study are not excluded.
• History of drug or alcohol abuse within 2 years prior to study entry
• Positive for opiates at the initial visit drug screen
• Abnormal vital signs, physical examination results, or clinical laboratory values, unless these abnormalities are judged to be clinically insignificant
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
• Collaborators: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ted Kaptchuk, OMD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2003
• Study Completion: April 1, 2006

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 6, 2004
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 7, 2004
• First Posted (Estimate): October 8, 2004

Study Record Updates

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

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Disease; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Colonic Diseases, Functional; Colonic Diseases; Intestinal Diseases; Syndrome; Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Other Study ID Numbers: R01AT001414-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)