Effects of Acupuncture on Perceived Stress and Health in Military Service Members

NCT06044714 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: NMCSD.2022.0054
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 86
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this is to investigate the effect of a Manual Standardized Stress Acupuncture (MSSA) protocol as an adjunct treatment to a short-term mindfulness therapy for perceived stress and general health in service members (i.e., active duty military personnel and veterans). The specific aims of this study are Aim 1) To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief MSSA as an adjunct treatment with a short-term Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) compared with MBSR alone for perceived stress and general health in service members. Aim 2) To describe any perceived benefits of MSSA as an adjunct treatment with MBSR compared with MBSR alone for perceived stress and general health. Participants will be asked to complete an informed consent if eligible for the study and randomized into two groups: 1) Participants in the experimental group will receive MSSA in addition to MBSR. 2) Participants in the control group will receive MBSR only. Researchers will compare experimental and control groups to see if the interventions mitigated perceived stress and improved the health of the participants.

Conditions

Perceived Stress

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

  The PSS is a 10-item scale used to evaluate perceived stress experience in adults. Perceived general stress is rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from never to very often. The total possible scores for PSS range from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating higher stress.

  At baseline, at two weeks post interventions, and at four weeks post interventions

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Insomnia Severity Index

  At baseline, at two weeks post interventions, and at four weeks post interventions

• The Short Form (SF) Health Survey

  At baseline, at two weeks post interventions, and at four weeks post interventions

• Journal Log

  At weeks 2 and 4 after treatments have been completed.

Other Outcomes (3)

• Blood Pressure (systolic and diastolic)

  Prior to each acupuncture session (experimental group only)

• Heart Rate

  Prior to each acupuncture session (experimental group only)

• Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)

  Prior to each acupuncture session and at the end of each acupuncture session (experimental group only)

Study Arms (2)

Manual Standardized Stress Acupuncture (MSSA) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

EXPERIMENTAL

Procedure: Manual Standardized Stress Acupuncture (MSSA); Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Interventions

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive four sessions of MBSR group psychotherapy (no more than 10 participants per group session) via Microsoft Teams. The first session will be 90 minutes followed by three 60-minute weekly sessions.

Manual Standardized Stress Acupuncture (MSSA) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR); Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Manual Standardized Stress Acupuncture (MSSA) PROCEDURE

Participants in the experimental group will receive 4 weekly sessions of MSSA, which consists of 8 acupuncture points: bilateral auricular (ear) shen men, GV- 20, GV-24.5 (Yin Tang), bilateral LI-4, and bilateral LR-3. Needles are left in situ for 30 minutes per session.

Manual Standardized Stress Acupuncture (MSSA) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Active duty and veteran service members,
• to 65 years of age, self-report of perceived stress symptoms for at least one month,
• a score of 16 or above on the PSS,
• stable on psychiatric and other medications including blood pressure agents for at least three months,
• agrees to participate in group psychotherapy (i.e., MBSR), and
• able to provide informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Recent surgery within one month,
• alcohol abuse or dependence diagnosis within one month,
• active substance use/abuse/dependency treatment within one month,
• pregnant women (acupuncture can result in an induction of labor and spontaneous abortion on rare occasions), and
• has had acupuncture treatment, dry needling, and MBSR provided by a provider in the past month.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• TriService Nursing Research Program: collaborator
• University of California, San Francisco: collaborator
• United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego: lead

Study Sites (1)

Naval Medical Center, San Diego

San Diego, California, 92134, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mindfulness; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: FED
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 8, 2023
• First Posted: September 21, 2023
• Study Start: September 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: October 31, 2025
• Study Completion: October 31, 2025
• Last Updated: January 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-05

Locations

US (1)