NCT05890508

Electro-acupuncture for Long Covid Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

Electro-acupuncture for Long Covid Neuropsychiatric Symptoms: a Prospective, Randomized Sham-controlled, Double-blinded Clinical Trial

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 150 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Hong Kong Baptist University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

In this study, a 16-week randomized, sham-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial will be conducted to to investigate the efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture for treatment of long covid neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Detailed description

This is a prospective, randomized, sham-controlled, double-blinded and multiple center trial on electro-acupuncture for treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in long covid patients. A total of 150 participants will be randomly assigned to the electro-acupuncture and the sham-control group with 1:1 ratio. Both groups will receive 32 sessions of interventions during 16-week treatment duration (2 session per week), and will be followed up for 8 weeks.

Conditions

• Long Covid19
• Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
• Electro-acupuncture

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Acupuncture	Disposable acupuncture needles (0.20 mm in diameter) are are used in the study. The acupoints are GV20(Baihui), EX-HN1(Sishencong), EX-HN3(Yintang), SP6(Sanyinjiao), ST36(Zusanli), ST40(Fenglong), and LR3(Taichong). Electrical stimulation will be delivered with waves at 2-5 Hz from an electroacupuncture device. The needles will be retained in position for 30 minutes.
DEVICE	Sham-acupuncture	Streitberger's non-invasive acupuncture needles (Gauge 8 x 1.2"/ 0.30 x 30mm) will be applied to serve as a sham control at the same acupoints with the same stimulation modality and then connecting the needle to the incorrect output socket of the electrical acupuncture stimulation instrument. The sham points are "pseudo stimulation".

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-03-01
• Primary completion: 2026-01-31
• Completion: 2026-04-30
• First posted: 2023-06-06
• Last updated: 2024-05-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Hong Kong