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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04703907

Auricular Stimulation for Relief of Stress and Anxiety During COVID-19 Epidemic

The aim of the study is to evaluate whether auricular stimulation (percutaneous sensory stimulation of cranial nerves) as compared vs. no intervention (waiting list) reduces stress and anxiety in health care providers, working at the time of COVID-19 pandemic at the University Medicine of Greifswald.

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Key information

Conditions

Stress and Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders

Age range

19 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University Medicine of Greifswald

Greifswald, 17475, Germany

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Medical care workers at the University Medicine of Greifswald
  • Experiencing stress and anxiety in connection with COVID-19 pandemic
  • Participants without previous anxiolytic medication
  • Ability to understand and fill in the structured questionnaire (Appendix D & E)
  • Written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Recidivist alcoholics
  • Local auricular skin infection
  • Pregnant or lactating women
  • Participants with prosthetic or damaged cardiac valves and mitral valve prolaps (risk of bacterial endocarditis according to guidelines of AHA)
  • Participants who are unable to understand the consent form
  • History of psychiatric disease

Treatment and study plan

auricular stimulation

Other

Auricular "acupuncture-like" stimulation (percutaneous sensory stimulation of cranial nerves)

Primary outcomes

  1. Anxiety

    Time frame: 15 weeks of investigation

    State anxiety

Secondary outcomes

  1. Trait anxiety

    Time frame: Before and after 15 weeks of intervention application

  2. Sleep quality

    Time frame: 15 weeks of investigation

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Medicine Greifswald

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Auricular Stimulation (AS) vs. "Waiting List" for Relief of Stress and Anxiety in Health Care Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic - a Prospective Controlled Investigation

Acronym: AA_COVID_19

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Jan 11, 2021
Registry last updated
Jun 11, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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