Acupuncture for PTSD

Overseen By Amanda Crawford, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Paul Crawford

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Recent mental hospitalization, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

Duration: 8 weeks

75 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study seeks to verify that a specific acupuncture treatment is effective at reducing symptoms of neuropsychiatric trauma found in those diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot be receiving acupuncture or other non-medication treatments specifically for PTSD during the study.

What data supports the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for PTSD?

Research suggests that acupuncture may help reduce PTSD symptoms, with some studies showing it can be as effective as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and better than certain medications. However, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm these findings. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is acupuncture safe for treating PTSD?

Acupuncture is generally considered safe and may reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, but more research is needed to confirm its safety specifically for PTSD. ^{4 5 6 7 8}

How does the Dragons acupuncture treatment for PTSD differ from other treatments?

Dragons acupuncture, a form of traditional Chinese medicine, is unique in its approach by using specific acupuncture points to potentially regulate brain areas and the neuroendocrine system, which may help alleviate PTSD symptoms. Unlike standard pharmacological treatments, it offers a non-drug alternative that may improve symptoms without the side effects associated with medications. ^{1 4 5 9 10}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for active duty members and DoD beneficiaries aged 18-65 with PTSD, as indicated by a PCL-5 score of 31 or higher. Participants must be able to receive care at Nellis Air Force Base and not be pregnant, hospitalized for mental health recently, have active suicidal thoughts, or currently receiving specific non-medication PTSD treatments.

Inclusion Criteria

At least 1 positive response to at least one item on the LEC-5

My PTSD score is 31 or higher, indicating I have PTSD.

I am between 18-65 years old and connected to the military as an active member, veteran, spouse, or child.

Exclusion Criteria

Active Suicidal thoughts (is currently considering suicide or has a plan) or suicide attempt within the last year

Pregnant, may be pregnant, or attempting to become pregnant

Legally Authorized Representatives will not be utilized in this study

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive acupuncture or sham treatments targeting Dragons points for PTSD symptom reduction

8 weeks

6 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Dragons acupressure
• Dragons acupuncture
• Dragons placebo

Trial Overview The study tests the effectiveness of Dragons acupuncture versus placebo and acupressure in reducing neuropsychiatric trauma symptoms in individuals with PTSD. It aims to determine which method may offer better recovery outcomes.

Participant Groups

Group I: Group 1 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Script followed by Dragons Acupuncture (external Dragons points with patient prone for 15 minutes followed by internal Dragons points with patient supine for 15 minutes).

Group II: Group 2 Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Script followed by Dragons sham acupressure placed at the Dragons points (external Dragons points with patient prone for 15 minutes followed by internal Dragons points with patient supine for 15 minutes).

Group III: Group 3 Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Script followed by Acupuncturist lightly touching Dragons points (external Dragons points with patient prone for 15 minutes followed by internal Dragons points with patient supine for 15 minutes).

Dragons acupressure is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Seven Dragons for:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Approved in European Union as Seven Dragons for:

• Neuropsychiatric trauma
• PTSD

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Paul Crawford

Lead Sponsor

Trials

6

Recruited

970+

Findings from Research

Acupuncture has been found to be more effective than both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy in improving PTSD symptoms, based on a comprehensive review that included 56 acupoint analyses, eight meta-analyses, and 33 mechanistic studies.

The most commonly used acupuncture point for PTSD treatment was GV20, and the mechanisms of action may involve regulating brain structures, the neuroendocrine system, and various signaling pathways, highlighting acupuncture's potential as a therapeutic option for PTSD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and underlying mechanisms of acupuncture therapy for PTSD: evidence from animal and clinical studies. Tang, X., Lin, S., Fang, D., et al.[2023]

A systematic review of 6 clinical trials, including 4 randomized controlled trials, suggests that acupuncture may be effective for treating PTSD, showing similar therapeutic effects to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and some advantages over waitlist controls.

While acupuncture plus moxibustion showed favorable outcomes compared to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in some measures, the overall evidence remains inconclusive, indicating a need for more rigorous trials to confirm its efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and prospective clinical trials. Kim, YD., Heo, I., Shin, BC., et al.[2022]

Acupuncture may significantly reduce PTSD symptoms in adults, with a standardized mean difference of -0.80 compared to other treatments, although the quality of evidence is very low.

Safety data from the studies indicate that acupuncture poses little risk of serious adverse events, with only minor issues like pain and superficial bleeding reported at needle sites.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture for the Treatment of Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Grant, S., Colaiaco, B., Motala, A., et al.[2022]

A single session of Thought Field Therapy (TFT) significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in 50 orphaned adolescents affected by the Rwandan genocide, with caregiver ratings showing a decrease in PTSD cutoffs from 100% to 6%.

The positive effects of TFT were sustained over a year, as indicated by follow-up checklists, and the therapy became integrated into the orphanage's culture, highlighting its long-term efficacy and acceptance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment of PTSD in Rwandan child genocide survivors using thought field therapy. Sakai, CE., Connolly, SM., Oas, P.[2015]

Acupuncture may be an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), supported by one published and one unpublished clinical trial, although more research is needed to confirm its efficacy.

Both modern western medicine and Chinese medicine recognize the complex interactions between individual factors and external conditions in the development of PTSD, and acupuncture has biological effects that could align with known PTSD pathology.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture for posttraumatic stress disorder: conceptual, clinical, and biological data support further research. Hollifield, M.[2021]

Acupuncture significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in service members compared to usual PTSD care, with improvements measured by the PTSD Checklist (PCL) and Clinician-administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) over 12 weeks.

In addition to alleviating PTSD symptoms, acupuncture also led to notable improvements in depression, pain severity, and overall mental and physical health functioning, suggesting it could be a valuable treatment option for those with PTSD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized effectiveness trial of a brief course of acupuncture for posttraumatic stress disorder. Engel, CC., Cordova, EH., Benedek, DM., et al.[2014]

This study aims to systematically review the clinical evidence regarding the use of acupuncture as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military veterans, addressing the limitations of conventional treatments.

The findings will help identify effective research designs and outcomes for future studies, potentially establishing acupuncture as a novel first-line treatment for PTSD in this high-risk population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture for military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and related symptoms after combat exposure: Protocol for a scoping review of clinical studies. Seung, HB., Leem, J., Kwak, HY., et al.[2023]

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) does not recognize posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a distinct disease, but historical texts like Huangdi's Canon of Medicine describe conditions with similar causes and symptoms.

Recent studies, particularly following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, have increased interest in TCM approaches to treating PTSD, suggesting a potential for integrating TCM remedies into contemporary PTSD treatment strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The treatment and research for posttraumatic stress disorder with Chinese medicine. Zhang, YH.[2020]

In a 5-week acupuncture intervention for earthquake victims in Amatrice, Italy, 54.05% of patients reported significant improvements in psychological symptoms and 60.6% in pain symptoms after three daily treatments.

The study found no serious adverse events associated with acupuncture, suggesting it is a safe complementary approach for managing earthquake-related psychological and physical distress.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Observational Study on Acupuncture for Earthquake-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Experience of the Lombard Association of Medical Acupuncturists/Acupuncture in the World, in Amatrice, Central Italy. Moiraghi, C., Poli, P., Piscitelli, A.[2020]

Acupuncture has been found to have a superior effect on treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is characterized by various abnormal mental symptoms related to stress.

The article reviews the neurobiological mechanisms and brain imaging studies that help clarify how acupuncture may work to alleviate PTSD symptoms, highlighting the need for further research in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Modern research progress regarding effect mechanism of acupuncture on post-traumatic stress disorder]. Zhao, Z., Zhang, W., Xing, J., et al.[2016]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and underlying mechanisms of acupuncture therapy for PTSD: evidence from animal and clinical studies. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and prospective clinical trials. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture for the Treatment of Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment of PTSD in Rwandan child genocide survivors using thought field therapy. [2015]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture for posttraumatic stress disorder: conceptual, clinical, and biological data support further research. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized effectiveness trial of a brief course of acupuncture for posttraumatic stress disorder. [2014]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture for military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and related symptoms after combat exposure: Protocol for a scoping review of clinical studies. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The treatment and research for posttraumatic stress disorder with Chinese medicine. [2020]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Observational Study on Acupuncture for Earthquake-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Experience of the Lombard Association of Medical Acupuncturists/Acupuncture in the World, in Amatrice, Central Italy. [2020]

10. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Modern research progress regarding effect mechanism of acupuncture on post-traumatic stress disorder]. [2016]