Acupuncture treatment for neuropsychiatric symptoms in long COVID patients
Acupuncture for Long COVID Neuropsychiatric Symptoms: a Pragmatic,Randomized Clinical Trial
This study is testing if acupuncture can help people with long COVID feel better by reducing their neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 160 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Hong Kong Baptist University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Kowloon Tong, Kowloon) |
| Trial ID | NCT06633666 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of acupuncture in alleviating neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with long COVID. It involves a 12-week pragmatic, randomized, double-blinded design with 160 participants diagnosed by a registered Chinese medicine practitioner. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an acupuncture group, receiving 24 sessions, or a control group receiving conventional therapy. Follow-up assessments will occur at week 18 to measure outcomes.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals aged 12 to 80 who have been diagnosed with long COVID and exhibit neuropsychiatric symptoms for at least two months post-infection.
Not a fit: Patients with a history of chronic neuropsychiatric symptoms or pre-existing cardiovascular and neurological disorders may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a non-drug option for managing neuropsychiatric symptoms in long COVID patients.
How similar studies have performed: While acupuncture has been explored in various contexts, this specific application for long COVID neuropsychiatric symptoms is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * meet the clinical diagnosis of Long COVID by the World Health Organization (WHO), with no neuropsychiatric symptoms 1 year before infection with Covid-19, and continue to have at least one neuropsychiatric symptom for 2 months after SARS-CoV-2 turned negative 3 months above; * aged 12 to 80 years; * willing and able to consent, and complete all assessment and study procedures Exclusion Criteria: * patients with a history of chronic neuropsychiatric symptoms; * cardiovascular diseases pre-existing to the Covid-19 episode such as arrhythmia, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and patients with cardiac pacemakers; * documented pre-existing history of psychiatric illness, including substance abuse; * suicidal tendencies (attempted suicide in the 12 months before the study); * any chronic or remote neurological disorder (i.e. stroke, head trauma, epilepsy, tumor); * those who participated in other clinical trials within one month; * pregnant or lactating female patients; * have surgery within two months before the study or will have a scheduled surgery during the study; * acute brain injury or acute encephalopathy from another etiology than Covid-19 (e.g., sepsis, liver or renal failure, alcohol or drug withdrawal, drug toxicity); * open-heart cardiac surgery or cardiac arrest during the last 6 months; * patients who received acupuncture treatment 1 month before the start of the study; * patients who were unable to complete the assessment during screening due to severe mental, cognitive, or emotional impairment
Where this trial is running
Kowloon Tong, Kowloon
- Linda Zhong — Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Linda Zhong, MD., Ph.D
- Email: ldzhong0305@gmail.com
- Phone: 85234116523
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.