RECRUITINGINTERVENTIONAL

Determining the Right Acupuncture for Good Recovery Over Neuropsychiatric Trauma

Determining the Right Acupuncture for Good Recovery Over Neuropsychiatric Trauma (DRAGON)

About This Trial

This study seeks to verify that a specific acupuncture treatment is effective at reducing symptoms of neuropsychiatric trauma found in those diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Active Duty members and DoD beneficiaries(i.e. former military, spouse, dependent child), 18-65 years old - Meeting the criteria for PTSD based on PCL-5 (past month scores) score of 31 or higher - At least 1 positive response to at least one item on the LEC-5. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Pregnant, may be pregnant, or attempting to become pregnant. There areno known risks of this acupuncture in pregnant patients; however, we will exclude pregnancy due to the location of the needles (right over the uterus in 3rd trimester) and risk of exacerbating anxiety that may cause stress on the baby. Subjects will be told to let us know if they become pregnant so we can disenroll them from the study. - Prior treatment with Dragons acupuncture - History of hospitalization for mental health reasons within the last year - Active Suicidal thoughts (is currently considering suicide or has a plan) or suicide attempt within the last year. This will be assessed by direct questioning. - Is currently receiving acupuncture or other non-medication treatments specifically for PTSD (patients can elect to forgo PTSD treatments during the study period and then resume after the study period is over; ie halt therapy during the study period) - Legally Authorized Representatives will not be utilized in this study \*\*Patients must be able to get care at Nellis Air Force Base (a military installation) in order to participate in this study\*\* Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

Inclusion Criteria: * Active Duty members and DoD beneficiaries(i.e. former military, spouse, dependent child), 18-65 years old * Meeting the criteria for PTSD based on PCL-5 (past month scores) score of 31 or higher * At least 1 positive response to at least one item on the LEC-5. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant, may be pregnant, or attempting to become pregnant. There areno known risks of this acupuncture in pregnant patients; however, we will exclude pregnancy due to the location of the needles (right over the uterus in 3rd trimester) and risk of exacerbating anxiety that may cause stress on the baby. Subjects will be told to let us know if they become pregnant so we can disenroll them from the study. * Prior treatment with Dragons acupuncture * History of hospitalization for mental health reasons within the last year * Active Suicidal thoughts (is currently considering suicide or has a plan) or suicide attempt within the last year. This will be assessed by direct questioning. * Is currently receiving acupuncture or other non-medication treatments specifically for PTSD (patients can elect to forgo PTSD treatments during the study period and then resume after the study period is over; ie halt therapy during the study period) * Legally Authorized Representatives will not be utilized in this study \*\*Patients must be able to get care at Nellis Air Force Base (a military installation) in order to participate in this study\*\*

Treatments Being Tested

OTHER

Dragons acupuncture

The treatment we are studying is supposed to help the rational and emotional brain effectively communicate, so that the emotional brain can finally realize the trauma experienced is no longer a threat. We call this re-processing. It does not take away the memory but it allows the rational brain to see the memory as just a memory without the emotional brain initiating your fight, flight or freeze system. This allows the mind to take the file off the messy desk and put it away. The treatment was named by the Chinese and is called "External and Internal Dragons". According to the Chinese, the External Dragons represent all the bad (traumatic) things that happen to us. The Internal Dragons live inside us, and fight off the External Dragons. Subject will lay on your stomach and have 7 needles placed in head, upper back, lower back and ankles.

OTHER

Dragons acupressure

The treatment we are studying is supposed to help the rational and emotional brain effectively communicate, so that the emotional brain can finally realize the trauma experienced is no longer a threat. We call this re-processing. It does not take away the memory but it allows the rational brain to see the memory as just a memory without the emotional brain initiating your fight, flight or freeze system. This allows the mind to take the file off the messy desk and put it away. The treatment was named by the Chinese and is called "External and Internal Dragons". According to the Chinese, the External Dragons represent all the bad (traumatic) things that happen to us. The Internal Dragons live inside us, and fight off the External Dragons. Subject will lay on your stomach and have 7 small acupressure adhesive bandages placed on head, upper back, lower back and ankles.

OTHER

Dragons placebo

The treatment we are studying is supposed to help the rational and emotional brain effectively communicate, so that the emotional brain can finally realize the trauma experienced is no longer a threat. We call this re-processing. It does not take away the memory but it allows the rational brain to see the memory as just a memory without the emotional brain initiating your fight, flight or freeze system. This allows the mind to take the file off the messy desk and put it away. The treatment was named by the Chinese and is called "External and Internal Dragons". According to the Chinese, the External Dragons represent all the bad (traumatic) things that happen to us. The Internal Dragons live inside us, and fight off the External Dragons. Subject will lay on your stomach and the doctor will touch 7 points on head, upper back, lower back and ankles.

Locations (1)

Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical Center

Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, United States