The Acupuncture Treatment Effect in Patients With Schizophrenia

January 20, 2026 updated by: Calo Psychiatric Center

The Quality of Life of Acupuncture Treatment Effect in Patients With Schizophrenia

Among various psychiatric disorders, this study focuses specifically on patients with schizophrenia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on antipsychotic medication-related side effects and psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. This is a single-blind randomized study. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Neiguan and Shenmen. Both the Neiguan and Shenmen groups will receive acupuncture treatment twice weekly, with each session lasting 30 minutes, for a total of four consecutive weeks. Assessments will be conducted prior to acupuncture intervention and after each acupuncture session. All assessment data will be collected and analyzed using statistical methods including descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and t-tests. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE-I) and multiple linear regression analyses will be applied to examine differences in psychological health, quality of life, and happiness before and after acupuncture intervention. It is anticipated that acupuncture will reduce antipsychotic-related side effects, improve psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, and subsequently enhance patients' quality of life and happiness.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Taiwan
      • Pingtung City, Taiwan, 925
        • Calo Psychiatric Center

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM-5 criteria for at least six months
  • Personal and Social Performance Scale score ≥ 50

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe medical illnesses (e.g., cancer, chronic liver disease, renal failure)
  • History of stroke or other causes of hemiplegia
  • Severe dermatological disease or limb edema
  • High risk of violence or suicide
  • Alcohol or substance abuse or dependence
  • Severe cognitive impairment
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Severe hepatic, renal, cardiac, pulmonary, or hematological disease
  • Major infectious diseases (e.g., HIV infection)
  • Refusal to provide informed consent

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: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: The Effects of Acupuncture on quality of life in schizophrenia
It is anticipated that acupuncture will reduce antipsychotic-related side effects, improve psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, and subsequently enhance patients' quality of life and happiness.
Other: Acupuncture
Both the Neiguan and Shenmen groups will receive acupuncture treatment twice weekly, with each session lasting 30 minutes, for a total of four consecutive weeks. Assessments will be conducted prior to acupuncture intervention and after each acupuncture session.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Hamilton Anxiety Scale
Time Frame: 15 minutes
assess the anxiety state
15 minutes
Hamilton Depression Scale
Time Frame: 15-20 minutes
assess the depression state
15-20 minutes
Short Version of the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser Side Effect Rating Scale
Time Frame: 5-10 minutes
assess the psychiatric symptoms
5-10 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Happiness Scale
Time Frame: 5 minutes
assess the happiness state
5 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Calo Psychiatric Center

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 (Actual)

December 16, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 12, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 12, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 20, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 114-051

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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