Acupressure and Stress Resilience

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI); Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Registration Number: NCT01614444
• Lead Sponsor: VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System

Brief Summary

The current study will assess the efficacy of acupressure, a type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the Veteran population. Veterans with co-occurring mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will be consented and randomly assigned to either an active or placebo acupressure treatment series of 8 sessions. The investigators will determine if acupressure affects aspects of day-to-day function, such as memory, sleep, mood, psychiatric health and stress resilience. This information will help identify potential treatment strategies to improve quality of life and overall function in this particular Veteran population.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2012-06-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-06-05
• Study First Posted: 2012-06-08
• Study Start: 2012-06-13
• Primary Completion: 2014-08-11
• Study Completion: 2017-03-07
• Status Verified: 2017-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-05-18
• Last Update Posted: 2017-05-19

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Between the ages of 18-60
• Diagnosis of mild TBI and PTSD as assessed by interview and/or chart review
• Currently receiving or eligible to receive physical and/or mental healthcare through the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System

Exclusion Criteria

• History of other significant neurological disease (e.g., Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis etc.) as assessed by interview and/or chart review. Such conditions could affect outcome measures independently, thereby creating an experimental confound.
• History or diagnosis of lifetime moderate to severe TBI, as assessed by interview and/or chart review.
• History of psychotic disorder or bipolar I disorder as assessed by structured interview. Such conditions could affect outcome measures independently, thereby creating an experimental confound.
• Inability to read the informed consent document or adequately respond to questions regarding the informed consent procedure.
• Prior experience with acupressure, as this would result in individuals potentially being able to detect Placebo treatments if randomly assigned to that group.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Trier Social Stress Test	72 hours post final acupressure treatment

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Denver VAMC; 🇺🇸 Denver, Colorado, United States