InsomniaNCT00839592
Acupuncture for Primary Insomnia
A study testing Electroacupuncture in people with Insomnia, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
This is a randomized controlled trial to evaluate acupuncture treatment on insomnia in the adult population in Hong Kong. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Insomnia
- What is being tested?
- Electroacupuncture
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- Jul 2006to Apr 2007
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Hong Kong residents
- aged 18-65
- Ethnic Chinese
- Meet the diagnosis criteria of primary insomnia for at least 3 months according to DSM-IV using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)
- Willing to give informed consent
- total score of Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) at least 15
- Able to comply with trial protocol
Who cannot join
- Participation in any clinical trial during the previous 3 months prior to baseline
- Any current major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorders or panic disorder, manic or hypomanic episode, substance use disorders besides caffeine and nicotine, organic mental disorder, schizophrenia or any other psychotic disorder as defined by DSM-IV criteria
- Serious physical illness or mental disorders due to a general medical condition which is judged by the investigator to render unsafe
- Valvular heart defects, bleeding disorders or taking anticoagulant drugs.
- Any acupuncture treatment during the previous 12 months prior to baseline.
- In the investigator's opinion, the patient has a significant risk of suicide
Show all 9Show fewer
- Pregnant, breast-feeding, or woman of childbearing potential not using adequate contraception
- Infection or abscess close to the site of selected acupoints and in the investigator's opinion inclusion is unsafe
- Herbal remedies, over-the-counter medications or psychotropic drugs, which are intended for insomnia, were taken within the last 2 weeks prior to baseline or during the study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Acupuncture Treatment of Primary Insomnia
This is a randomized controlled trial to evaluate acupuncture treatment on insomnia in the adult population in Hong Kong.
Read the detailed description
Acupuncture is potential to be an alternative treatment for primary insomnia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on primary insomnia. This is a randomized single-blinded controlled trial. Patients will be randomly assigned to the electro-acupuncture group or the placebo acupuncture group. Patients will be put into groups and then compared.
- Conditions
- Insomnia
- Being tested
- Electroacupuncture
- Keywords
- Insomnia, Acupuncture, Electroacupuncture, Randomized Clinical Trial, Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Medical subject headings
- Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ElectroacupunctureOther
Also called Acupuncture
Acupuncture at bilateral Ear Shenmen, Sishencong EX-HN1, Anmian, and unilateral Yintang EX-HN3 and Baihui GV20. The needles will be left for 30 min and then removed. Acupuncture treatment will consist of three sessions per week for 3 consecutive weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Electroacupuncture | Experimental | Acupoints will be treated at bilateral Ear Shenmen, Sishencong (EX-HN1), Anmian, and unilateral Yintang (EX-HN3) and Baihui (GV20).
Acupuncture will be performed by a registered Chinese medicine practitioner. "De qi"(an irradiating feeling considered to be indicative of effective needling) is achieved if possible. An electric-stimulator (CEFAR Acus II, Lund, Sweden) will be connected to these needles to give an electric-stimulation in continuous wave, frequency of 4 Hz, 0.45 ms square wave pulses and constant current. The needles will be left for 30 min and then removed. Acupuncture treatment will consist of three sessions per week for 3 consecutive weeks. Receives: Other: Electroacupuncture |
| Placebo Acupuncture | Placebo comparator | Placebo needles designed by Streitberger (1998) will be used. The placebo needles are blunt needle that will not penetrate the skin during needle insertion. The handles of these placebo needles will slide over the needle when it is compressed, giving it the appearance of penetrating the skin. The placebo needles are inserted to the same acupoints as stated in the electroacupuncture group. The needles are held by a surgical tape or hair pin in hairy region to imitate the retention of needles. The needles are connected to an electric-stimulator with zero frequency and amplitude. The number, duration and frequency of the treatment sessions, and the intervention procedure will be the same for electro-acupuncture and placebo acupuncture. Receives: Other: Electroacupuncture |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Self-rated sleep quality score measured by Insomnia Severity Index questionnaire
Measured: Baseline, weekly during the treatment course, 1-week posttreatment
Secondary outcomes (6)
Sleep parameters (sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, times of wakening during sleep) by objective measure - wrist actigraphy
Measured: Baseline, and 1-week posttreatment
Sleep parameters (sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, times of wakening during sleep) by subjective measures using sleep log.
Measured: Baseline, weekly during the treatment course, and 1-week posttreatment
Self-rated sleep quality score measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire
Measured: Baseline, and 1-week posttreatment
Anxiety and depression states measured by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Measured: Baseline, and 1-week posttreatment
Subjects' functioning regarding work/study, social life and family measured by Sheehan Disability Index
Measured: Baseline, and 1-week posttreatment
Subjects' credibility to the treatment measured by Credibility of treatment rating scale
Measured: Second and the last time of the treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Feb 2009 (estimated)
- Study startJul 2006
- Primary completionApr 2007
- Study completionApr 2007
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for InsomniaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union
- Investigators
- Ka-Fai Chung, MBBS, Principal investigator, The University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00839592
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ACUP-001
- Status last verified
- Jan 2010
- First submitted
- 6 Feb 2009
- Last updated
- 14 Jan 2010
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Yeung WF, Chung KF, Yu YB, Lao L. What predicts a positive response to acupuncture? A secondary analysis of three randomised controlled trials of insomnia. Acupunct Med. 2017 Mar;35(1):24-29. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2016-011058. Epub 2016 Aug 8.
PubMed 27503746Yeung WF, Chung KF, Zhang SP, Yap TG, Law AC. Electroacupuncture for primary insomnia: a randomized controlled trial. Sleep. 2009 Aug;32(8):1039-47. doi: 10.1093/sleep/32.8.1039.
PubMed 19725255
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Jan 2010. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Acupuncture Treatment of Primary Insomnia
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00839592
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ACUP-001
- Conditions
- Insomnia
- Keywords
- Insomnia, Acupuncture, Electroacupuncture, Randomized Clinical Trial, Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union
- Study start
- Jul 2006
- Primary completion
- Apr 2007 (actual)
- Study completion
- Apr 2007 (actual)
- First posted
- 9 Feb 2009 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This is a randomized controlled trial to evaluate acupuncture treatment on insomnia in the adult population in Hong Kong.
Detailed description
Acupuncture is potential to be an alternative treatment for primary insomnia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on primary insomnia. This is a randomized single-blinded controlled trial. Patients will be randomly assigned to the electro-acupuncture group or the placebo acupuncture group. Patients will be put into groups and then compared.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Electroacupuncture | Experimental | Other: ElectroacupunctureAcupoints will be treated at bilateral Ear Shenmen, Sishencong (EX-HN1), Anmian, and unilateral Yintang (EX-HN3) and Baihui (GV20). Acupuncture will be performed by a registered Chinese medicine practitioner. "De qi"(an irradiating feeling considered to be indicative of effective needling) is achieved if possible. An electric-stimulator (CEFAR Acus II, Lund, Sweden) will be connected to these needles to give an electric-stimulation in continuous wave, frequency of 4 Hz, 0.45 ms square wave pulses and constant current. The needles will be left for 30 min and then removed. Acupuncture treatment will consist of three sessions per week for 3 consecutive weeks. |
| Placebo Acupuncture | Placebo comparator | Other: ElectroacupuncturePlacebo needles designed by Streitberger (1998) will be used. The placebo needles are blunt needle that will not penetrate the skin during needle insertion. The handles of these placebo needles will slide over the needle when it is compressed, giving it the appearance of penetrating the skin. The placebo needles are inserted to the same acupoints as stated in the electroacupuncture group. The needles are held by a surgical tape or hair pin in hairy region to imitate the retention of needles. The needles are connected to an electric-stimulator with zero frequency and amplitude. The number, duration and frequency of the treatment sessions, and the intervention procedure will be the same for electro-acupuncture and placebo acupuncture. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Hong Kong residents
- aged 18-65
- Ethnic Chinese
- Meet the diagnosis criteria of primary insomnia for at least 3 months according to DSM-IV using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)
- Willing to give informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Participation in any clinical trial during the previous 3 months prior to baseline
- Any current major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorders or panic disorder, manic or hypomanic episode, substance use disorders besides caffeine and nicotine, organic mental disorder, schizophrenia or any other psychotic disorder as defined by DSM-IV criteria
- Serious physical illness or mental disorders due to a general medical condition which is judged by the investigator to render unsafe
- Valvular heart defects, bleeding disorders or taking anticoagulant drugs.
- Any acupuncture treatment during the previous 12 months prior to baseline.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| ElectroacupunctureAlso: AcupunctureAcupuncture at bilateral Ear Shenmen, Sishencong EX-HN1, Anmian, and unilateral Yintang EX-HN3 and Baihui GV20. The needles will be left for 30 min and then removed. Acupuncture treatment will consist of three sessions per week for 3 consecutive weeks. | Other | Electroacupuncture, Placebo Acupuncture |
Primary outcome
Self-rated sleep quality score measured by Insomnia Severity Index questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, weekly during the treatment course, 1-week posttreatment
6 secondary outcomes
Sleep parameters (sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, times of wakening during sleep) by objective measure - wrist actigraphy
Time frame: Baseline, and 1-week posttreatment
Sleep parameters (sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, times of wakening during sleep) by subjective measures using sleep log.
Time frame: Baseline, weekly during the treatment course, and 1-week posttreatment
Self-rated sleep quality score measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, and 1-week posttreatment
Anxiety and depression states measured by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Time frame: Baseline, and 1-week posttreatment
Subjects' functioning regarding work/study, social life and family measured by Sheehan Disability Index
Time frame: Baseline, and 1-week posttreatment
Subjects' credibility to the treatment measured by Credibility of treatment rating scale
Time frame: Second and the last time of the treatment
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Jan 2010.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 27503746Yeung WF, Chung KF, Yu YB, Lao L. What predicts a positive response to acupuncture? A secondary analysis of three randomised controlled trials of insomnia. Acupunct Med. 2017 Mar;35(1):24-29. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2016-011058. Epub 2016 Aug 8.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 19725255Yeung WF, Chung KF, Zhang SP, Yap TG, Law AC. Electroacupuncture for primary insomnia: a randomized controlled trial. Sleep. 2009 Aug;32(8):1039-47. doi: 10.1093/sleep/32.8.1039.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ka-Fai Chung, MBBS principal investigator
The University of Hong Kong
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Electroacupuncture in people with Insomnia, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Jan 2010. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Self-rated sleep quality score measured by Insomnia Severity Index questionnaire (time frame: Baseline, weekly during the treatment course, 1-week posttreatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00839592, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Jan 2010; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 29 Oct 2026.