A Pilot Investigational Study: Treatment of Anxiety With Non-Needle Electro-Acupuncture

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of non-needle electro-acupuncture on mild to moderate anxiety. The hypothesis is that this style of treatment will reduce state anxiety and not trait anxiety as measured by the Spielberger STAI test.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Anxiety, Mild to Moderate
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: HANS non-needle acupuncture; Procedure: Stimulation of two acupuncture points bi-lateral

Detailed Description

Persistent and unrelenting stress is defined as anxiety. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders in society. The NIH estimates that nearly 200 million Americans suffer from anxiety. Anxiety disorders are associated with a lower quality of life, functional impairment and disability, and are also associated with co-morbid physical illness.

Acupuncture, one form of complementary and alternative medicine, has been used to treat anxiety. Non-needle acupuncture is one of the safest methods, with none to rare side effects. This method has been studied in China (Han 1986) and America (Ulett 1998) Pre-intervention testing, then three treatments within one week, will be followed by post intervention testing.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Missouri
    • Chesterfield, Missouri, United States, 63017
      • Logan College of Chirpractic

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria: Normally healthy persons with mild to moderate anxiety -

Exclusion Criteria: Severe anxiety, depression, pregnancy, and previous experience with HANS non-needle electro-acupuncture treatment

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Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Spielberger STAI test

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Logan College of Chiropractic
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: David V. Beavers, DC, Logan College of Chiropractic

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Ulett GA, Han J, Han S. Traditional and evidence-based acupuncture: history, mechanisms, and present status. South Med J. 1998 Dec;91(12):1115-20. doi: 10.1097/00007611-199812000-00004.
• Zhang H, Zeng Z, Deng H. Acupuncture treatment for 157 cases of anxiety neurosis. J Tradit Chin Med. 2003 Mar;23(1):55-6. No abstract available.
• Han JS. Electroacupuncture: an alternative to antidepressants for treating affective diseases? Int J Neurosci. 1986 Mar;29(1-2):79-92. doi: 10.3109/00207458608985638.
• Jorm AF, Christensen H, Griffiths KM, Parslow RA, Rodgers B, Blewitt KA. Effectiveness of complementary and self-help treatments for anxiety disorders. Med J Aust. 2004 Oct 4;181(S7):S29-46. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2004.tb06352.x.
• Mamtani R, Cimino A. A primer of complementary and alternative medicine and its relevance in the treatment of mental health problems. Psychiatr Q. 2002 Winter;73(4):367-81. doi: 10.1023/a:1020472218839.
• Tang J, Gibson SJ. A psychophysical evaluation of the relationship between trait anxiety, pain perception, and induced state anxiety. J Pain. 2005 Sep;6(9):612-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2005.03.009.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2006
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2006
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2006

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 8, 2006
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 8, 2006
• First Posted (Estimate): June 12, 2006

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): October 17, 2008
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 16, 2008
• Last Verified: July 1, 2007

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Anxiety Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: RD0602060019