Electro-acupuncture for Long Covid Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

Launched by HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY · Jun 1, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is investigating the use of electro-acupuncture to help people who are experiencing ongoing neuropsychiatric symptoms after having COVID-19, often referred to as "long COVID." The study will last for 16 weeks and will involve comparing the effects of real electro-acupuncture to a sham (fake) acupuncture treatment. The goal is to see if electro-acupuncture can effectively reduce issues like difficulty concentrating, headaches, sensory disturbances, depression, and what some call "brain fog."

To participate, you need to be an adult aged 18 to 80 who has had a positive COVID-19 test at least four weeks ago and is now COVID-negative. You should also be experiencing at least one of the neurological symptoms linked to long COVID. The study is open to all genders, and participants will be asked to commit to all study activities and provide consent. If you have certain pre-existing health conditions, like chronic neurological disorders or psychiatric illnesses, you may not be eligible. This trial could be an important step in finding new ways to help those struggling with the lasting effects of COVID-19.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • adults over 18 years of age to 80;
• • history of SARS-CoV-2 PCR+ at least 4 weeks prior to study entry; SARS-CoV-2 negative (PCR) at study entry;
• • at least one persistent neurological symptom (impaired concentration, headache, sensory disturbances, or depression, or "brain fog") that began around the time of the acute COVID-19;
• • willing and able to consent, complete all assessment and study procedures.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • any chronic or remote neurological disorder (i.e. stroke, head trauma, epilepsy, tumor);
• • intellectual disability pre-existing to the Covid-19 episode;cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmia, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and patients with cardiac pacemakers,
• • acute brain injury or acute encephalopathy from another aetiology than covid (e.g., sepsis, liver or renal failure, alcohol or drug withdrawal, drug toxicity);
• • documented pre-existing history of psychiatric illness, including substance abuse;
• • open-heart cardiac surgery or cardiac arrest during the last 6 months;
• • current hospitalization;
• • pregnant women.