NCT00065403

Brief Summary

Little is known about acupuncture's efficacy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This trial uses a manualized acupuncture treatment format that closely follows clinical practice and allows flexibility in designing individualized treatments. In addition, a second parallel qualitative study will follow a subgroup of patients throughout the trial to explore the relationships between patients' interpretations and understandings (what anthropologists call "meaning") of irritable bowel and their response to treatment. Cortisol levels (an important stress hormone) will also be assessed. This will be a 3-arm trial: Active acupuncture, placebo acupuncture, and wait list.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
260

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_1

Timeline
Completed

Started Feb 2004

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 22, 2003

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 23, 2003

Completed
6 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

February 1, 2004

Completed
1.6 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 1, 2005

Completed
Last Updated

August 18, 2006

Status Verified

August 1, 2006

First QC Date

July 22, 2003

Last Update Submit

August 16, 2006

Conditions

Keywords

Irritable Bowel SyndromeAcupuncture

Interventions

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 80 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome based on Rome II criteria, including at least 12 weeks of abdominal discomfort or pain in the last 12 months with at least 2 of the following features:
  • Relief with defecation
  • Onset associated with a change in stool frequency
  • Onset associated with a change in form/appearance of stool

You may not qualify if:

  • History of severe or intractable IBS, defined as continuous, unremitting and several abdominal pain greater than 12 hours/day
  • Previous acupuncture treatment
  • Concurrent diagnosis of any bowel disturbance that would interfere with the assessment or safety of the study
  • History of laxative abuse
  • Previous abdominal surgery (uncomplicated appendectomy, hysterectomy or cholecystectomy at least 6 months prior to entry acceptable)
  • History of metabolic or inflammatory disease that may affect bowel motility, eg.g., inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes mellitus, sarcoidosis
  • Other significant illness as determined by Investigator
  • History of drug or alcohol abuse w/in 2 years;
  • Insufficient knowledge of English to complete self-assessments to participate in study

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Harvard Medical School

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Kaptchuk TJ, Kelley JM, Conboy LA, Davis RB, Kerr CE, Jacobson EE, Kirsch I, Schyner RN, Nam BH, Nguyen LT, Park M, Rivers AL, McManus C, Kokkotou E, Drossman DA, Goldman P, Lembo AJ. Components of placebo effect: randomised controlled trial in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. BMJ. 2008 May 3;336(7651):999-1003. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39524.439618.25. Epub 2008 Apr 3.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Interventions

Acupuncture Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Colonic Diseases, FunctionalColonic DiseasesIntestinal DiseasesGastrointestinal DiseasesDigestive System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Complementary TherapiesTherapeutics

Study Officials

  • Ted Kaptchuk, OMD

    Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM)

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 1
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
NIH

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 22, 2003

First Posted

July 23, 2003

Study Start

February 1, 2004

Study Completion

September 1, 2005

Last Updated

August 18, 2006

Record last verified: 2006-08

Locations