The Effect of Acupuncture on Anxiety and Working Memory

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Memory Impairment; Anxiety
• Interventions: Procedure: Acupuncture

• Registration Number: NCT01492738
• Lead Sponsor: National University of Health Sciences

Brief Summary

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.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-02
• Primary Completion: 2011-12
• Study Completion: 2011-12
• Study First Submitted: 2011-12-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2011-12-13
• Study First Posted: 2011-12-15
• Status Verified: 2015-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-04-14
• Last Update Posted: 2015-04-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 90

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Acupuncture group	Acupuncture	Acupuncture group will receive one acupuncture treatment for twenty minutes.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Memory task	After 1 hour	Following acupuncture treatment or resting control, participants will complete a standardized memory test (AOSPAN) to see if intervention affects memory.
Change in anxiety level	Baseline and after1 hour	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.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Tiffani Kim Institute; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States

A Center for Oriental Medicine; 🇺🇸 Wilmette, Illinois, United States