NCT00868517

Examining the Effect of Acupuncture on Sleep Difficulties Related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

The Effect of Acupuncture on PTSD-Related Insomnia

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 35 (actual)
• Sponsor: US Department of Veterans Affairs · Federal
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study was to examine if group ear acupuncture improves Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder sleep difficulties among veterans who participated in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. This study also examined the degree of veteran acceptance for a group ear acupuncture procedure.

Detailed description

Background: Approximately 70-91% of veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) report insomnia. Presently, conventional treatments for PTSD-related insomnia include medications, psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. While some of these conventional treatments do improve PTSD-related insomnia, many of these treatments have limitations (e.g., medication effects, lengthy time commitments, psycho-social stigma). Because of these limitations, many veterans are increasingly turning to complementary and alternative therapies to relieve their symptoms. There is a growing body of research that shows that acupuncture may improve many health symptoms including depression, PTSD, addiction, headaches, musculoskeletal pain, and insomnia. However, to date, no study has specifically explored how acupuncture may affect PTSD-related insomnia. Because so many veterans with PTSD experience PTSD-related insomnia, and because the current conflicts in Southwest Asia are producing a new generation of combat veterans, it is critical that the VA explore innovative treatments for PTSD-related health concerns.

Conditions

• Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	True group auricular acupuncture	Received true group auricular acupuncture
OTHER	Sham group auricular acupuncture	Received sham auricular acupuncture.
OTHER	Wait-List Control Group	Received conventional care only. Eligible to receive true group auricular acupuncture once study period completed.

Timeline

• Start date: 2009-10-01
• Primary completion: 2011-09-01
• Completion: 2011-12-01
• First posted: 2009-03-25
• Last updated: 2015-04-28
• Results posted: 2014-11-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States