Acupuncture's effects on stress and health in military personnel
Effects of Acupuncture on Perceived Stress and Health in Military Service Members and Veterans
This study is testing whether adding acupuncture to a mindfulness program can help military personnel and veterans who are feeling stressed feel better and improve their health.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 84 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego Federal |
| Locations | 1 site (San Diego, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT06044714 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the impact of a Manual Standardized Stress Acupuncture (MSSA) protocol as an additional treatment alongside a short-term Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program for military service members experiencing perceived stress. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive MSSA with MBSR or MBSR alone. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this combined approach on perceived stress and overall health, as well as to gather insights on the perceived benefits of MSSA. The research focuses on active duty military personnel and veterans aged 18 to 65 who report stress symptoms.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are active duty and veteran service members aged 18 to 65 who have reported stress symptoms for at least one month.
Not a fit: Patients who have had recent surgery, substance abuse issues, or prior acupuncture treatment within the last month may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide military personnel with an effective complementary treatment for managing perceived stress and improving overall health.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results for acupuncture in stress management, suggesting that this approach may be beneficial, though the specific combination with MBSR is less commonly tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Active duty and veteran service members, * 18 to 65 years of age, self-report of perceived stress symptoms for at least one month, * a score of 16 or above on the PSS, * stable on psychiatric and other medications including blood pressure agents for at least three months, * agrees to participate in group psychotherapy (i.e., MBSR), and * able to provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Recent surgery within one month, * alcohol abuse or dependence diagnosis within one month, * active substance use/abuse/dependency treatment within one month, * pregnant women (acupuncture can result in an induction of labor and spontaneous abortion on rare occasions), and * has had acupuncture treatment, dry needling, and MBSR provided by a provider in the past month.
Where this trial is running
San Diego, California
- Naval Medical Center, San Diego — San Diego, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jane Abanes, PhD
- Email: jjabanes@gmail.com
- Phone: 415-855-1655
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.