Acupuncture for Adolescents with Psychological Distress and Insomnia

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

In this assessor-blinded, randomized trial, 148 adolescents aged 15-22 with mild to moderate anxiety or depressive symptoms are assigned to either DCEAS+BA or MAS for 8 weeks (two sessions per week) followed by a 4-week post-treatment period. Primary outcome is the Chinese Beck Anxiety Inventory; secondary outcomes include BDI-II for depression, SAS/SDS for anxiety and depression, PSQI for sleep quality, and WHOQOL-BREF for quality of life, with assessments every 4 weeks up to week 12. Saliva samples are collected as part of the study. The study aims to determine if the active acupuncture approach provides greater symptom relief and quality-of-life improvement compared with a minimal acupuncture control in a youth population.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants will be eligible for this study if they:

1. are experiencing anxiety as evidenced by a BAI-C score of at least 8 (no symptoms = 0-7; mild = 8-15; moderate = 16-25; severe = 26-63), and/or a C-BDI-II score of at least 14 (no symptoms = 0-13, mild = 14-19; moderate = 20-28; severe = 29-63);
2. have symptoms that have persistent for more than 3 months;
3. are able to provide informed consent for participation, and complete treatments and questionnaires as scheduled; and
4. have no suicidal ideation, as evidenced by "no" answers or a score of \<3 for all questionnaires of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants will be excluded if they:

1. have unstable systemic medical conditions that may limit their participation in the study, for example, severe liver, cardiovascular, or kidney impairment; gastrointestinal or endocrine dysfunction; malignancy; autoimmune disease; acute infectious disease; or any conditions with unstable vital signs or require intensive hospitalization;
2. have bipolar or psychotic disorder (e.g. schizophrenia);
3. have a history of brain injury or surgery;
4. have alcohol abuse or substance abuse;
5. are pregnant or in lactation, or intend to conceive;
6. have heart pacemaker or other metal devices implanted in the body;
7. have concurrent or use of drug treatment for anxiety/depression in the previous 6 months;
8. have treatment with acupuncture or brain stimulation in the previous 6 months;
9. have a history of epilepsy;
10. have a condition of bleeding tendency, or coagulopathy, or currently receiving anti-coagulant treatment; or
11. involved in other interventional clinical studies in the last 3 months or any relevant condition potentially interfering with study evaluation.

Where it's running

• School of Chinese Medicine University of Hong Kong
  Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Zhang-Jin Zhang, MMed, PhD — The University of Hong Kong
• Study coordinator: Zhang-Jin Zhang, MMed, PhD
• Email: zhangzj@hku.hk
• Phone: +852 3917 6445

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Online support for men adjusting to prostate cancer

  This study is testing if an online therapy program can help men dealing with emotional challenges after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

  Recruiting Linkoeping University · Linköping · NCT06766526

• Evaluating the impact of self-help CBT in primary care behavioral health

  This study is testing if adding guided self-help therapy to regular mental health care can help patients feel better and improve their daily lives.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Linnaeus University · Varberg, Halland County and 3 other locations · NCT04900064

• SleepCogni for children with chronic insomnia

  A handheld SleepCogni device is tested to see if it helps kids aged 6–16 with chronic insomnia sleep better.

  Recruiting Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust · Sheffield · NCT07926724

• Music therapy after stroke

  This trial tests whether adding music therapy to standard care helps stroke patients sleep better and feel less anxious or depressed while in the hospital.

  Recruiting Universidad de Granada · Granada, Granada · NCT07899034

• Remote ischemic conditioning for post-stroke insomnia

  A 136-person, randomized study will test whether a non-invasive arm-cuff procedure done twice daily for 90 days can improve sleep after a first ischemic stroke in adults 18–80.

  Recruiting Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences · Chengdu, Sichuan · NCT07874594

• Healing Hearts: A Mindfulness App for Parents Navigating Divorce or Separation

  A online program tests a self-guided mindfulness app for distressed parents going through divorce or separation, to see if it helps parent and child wellbeing.

  Recruiting University of Connecticut · Stamford, Connecticut · NCT07871916

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.