Acupuncture treatment for neuropsychiatric symptoms in long COVID patients

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

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.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

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 it's running

• Linda Zhong
  Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Linda Zhong, MD., Ph.D
• Email: ldzhong0305@gmail.com
• Phone: 85234116523

Similar studies

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

• Acupuncture for post-stroke swallowing problems

  This project tests whether different acupuncture approaches improve swallowing in adults with post-stroke dysphagia.

  Recruiting First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine · Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality · NCT07493902

• 2-HOBA to reduce persistent immune activation in Long COVID with POTS

  This trial will test whether 2‑HOBA, a compound that scavenges harmful IsoLG-adducts, can reduce immune activation in adults with Long COVID who have POTS.

  Recruiting Phase 2 Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Nashville, Tennessee · NCT07189936

• Long COVID relief through learning mindfulness

  This study will try an 8-week online recorded mindfulness program to see if it reduces stress and Long COVID symptoms in adults who continue their usual care.

  Recruiting Columbia University · New York, New York · NCT07140094

• Stress Reduction With Acupuncture After Breast Cancer Treatment

  This trial tests whether eight weeks of weekly acupuncture can lower psychological distress in breast cancer survivors who recently finished primary treatment, compared with a wait-list control.

  Recruiting at 2 sites University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · Basel and 2 other locations · NCT07132034

• Acupuncture for pain after total knee replacement

  This project will try acupuncture to reduce short-term pain, opioid use, and inflammation after elective total knee replacement in adults.

  Recruiting Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di Pavia · Pavia, Pavia · NCT07123805

• Acupuncture versus TENS for pain after upper abdominal surgery

  This will test whether acupuncture or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can reduce pain for adults after upper abdominal surgery.

  Recruiting Cairo University · Al Mansurah · NCT07036393

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.