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The Effect of Acupuncture on Anxiety and Working Memory

This study has been completed.
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
National University of Health Sciences
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01492738
First received: December 1, 2011
Last updated: February 27, 2012
Last verified: February 2012
History of Changes
  Purpose

This study endeavors to examine the relationship between acupuncture, anxiety, and performance on a test of working memory. In the study, all participants will complete the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) survey to determine how anxious they are at the moment and how anxious they tend to be in general. Then ½ of subjects will receive acupuncture for 20 minutes and ½ will rest quietly for 20 minutes. After this period, all subjects will again complete the STAI survey. Then all subjects will complete the Automated Operations Span Task (AOSPAN) which is a computerized test of working memory. Statistical analysis will be performed to determine if acupuncture had any effect on State-level anxiety and on performance on the AOSPAN.


Condition Intervention
Memory Impairment
Anxiety
 Procedure: Acupuncture
Procedure: Control group

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Open Label
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: The Effect of Acupuncture on Anxiety and Working Memory

Resource links provided by NLM:

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by National University of Health Sciences:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Change in anxiety level [ Time Frame: Baseline and after1 hour ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
    Participants will complete the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory survey to see how anxious they are initially; after acupuncture treatment or quiet resting, they will complete the survey again to see how anxious they are after the intervention.

  • Memory task [ Time Frame: After 1 hour ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
    Following acupuncture treatment or resting control, participants will complete a standardized memory test (AOSPAN) to see if intervention affects memory.


Enrollment: 90
Study Start Date: February 2011
Study Completion Date: December 2011
Primary Completion Date: December 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
No Intervention: Control Group
Participants will be asked to make themselves comfortable lying on a massage table for 20 minutes.
 Procedure: Control group
After completing questionnaires and anxiety survey, participants will be asked to make themselves comfortable lying on a massage table. Procedure will last 20 minutes. Following lying on massage table, participants will complete anxiety survey and memory test.
Active Comparator: Acupuncture group
Acupuncture group will receive one acupuncture treatment for twenty minutes.
 Procedure: Acupuncture
After completing questionnaires and anxiety survey, a licensed acupuncturist will insert needles according to Clean Needle Technique into specific acupuncture points. Procedure will last 20 minutes.Following acupuncture treatment, participants will complete anxiety survey and memory test.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 30 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Undergraduate University student
  • Fluent in English
  • Willing to receive acupuncture
  • Aged 18-30
  • In good health
  • Not pregnant
  • Not breastfeeding

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Not an Undergraduate University student
  • Not fluent in English
  • Unwilling to receive acupuncture
  • Under 18 years of age or older than 30 years of age
  • Chronic disease
  • Pregnant
  • Breastfeeding
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01492738

Locations
United States, Illinois
Tiffani Kim Institute
Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60654
A Center for Oriental Medicine
Wilmette, Illinois, United States, 60091
Sponsors and Collaborators
National University of Health Sciences
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Jason Bussell, MSOM, LAc National University of Health Sciences
Study Director: Hui Yan Cai, PhD, LAc National University of Health Sciences
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: National University of Health Sciences
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01492738     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: NUHS H1011
Study First Received: December 1, 2011
Last Updated: February 27, 2012
Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board

Keywords provided by National University of Health Sciences:
Acupuncture
anxiety
memory

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Anxiety Disorders
Memory Disorders
Mental Disorders
Neurobehavioral Manifestations
 Neurologic Manifestations
Nervous System Diseases
Signs and Symptoms

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 22, 2013