Clinical Research of Electro-acupuncture Combined Psychological Intervention on Internet Addiction Disorder

this research adopted multicentered, randomly and parallel control methods to observe the clinical effects of electro-acupuncture combined psychological intervention on internet addiction disorder, aim to provide a convenient, affordable and effective clinical protocol.

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Addiction Behavior Behavior, Addictive Compulsive Behavior Impulsive Behavior

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

This research was aimed to discuss the impact of acupuncture treatment on the impulsive behavior of Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) sufferers, with the detection of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), the assessment of Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) and Go/No-go task, hopefully that this research could provide basis for the further study as well as the establishment of comprehensive assessment and treatment protocol of IAD.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

Subjects manifested three or more among the seven following conditions within one year could be defined as internet addiction:
(1) Tolerance, complied with either one: ①Satisfaction obtaining through markedly increasing time online ②Spending same period of time online but with dramatic declining satisfaction.
(2) Any following symptoms appeared after quitting internet surfing: ①Obvious withdrawal syndrome: A-- Quitted or decreased long time internet surfing. B--Within one month after A, two or more following symptoms appeared: (a) Depressed. (b) Psychomotor fidgety. (c) Compulsively thought things happened online. (d) Hallucinated or dreamed about internet related stuff. (e) Consciously or unconsciously carried out tapping the keyboard movement. C--The symptoms in B led to unexpected damage to one's social life, work and other important aspects of life, even depression. ②Desperate to surf the internet or seek similar online service in a bid to relieve or avoid withdrawal syndrome.
(3) More frequent online behaviors or longer online time than planned.
(4) Had been trying hard to reduce or control internet use but never succeeded.
(5) Spent large amount of time on internet related things, such as purchasing online books, trying out new browsers, organizing downloaded files, etc.
(6) Giving up or reducing important social, work or entertainment activities.
(7) Despite unfavorable physical, mental, social or work consequences, continued to use internet.

Exclusion criteria

Other psychiatric disease history.
Drug addiction history
Severe cardiovascular disease, blood diseases, malignant tumors or any other contraindication of electro-acupuncture.
Allergic to acupuncture treatment.
Participants with intracranial diseases or abnormal scalp structure.
Participants with metal implant.
Color blindness, left handedness.
Women in gestation or lactation period.

Treatment and study plan

electro-acupuncture

Other

13points were selected including he-gu(LI4), nei-guan(PC6), tai-chong(LR3) and san-yin-jiao(SP6) from both sides, bai-hui(GV20) and si-shen-cong(EX-HN1) from head.

HANS-200A acupoints stimulator, which had two output channels, was connected to some selected points. Dilatational wave was adopted in this research, the frequency of rarefaction wave was 2 hertz and condensation wave was 100 hertz, with a waviness width of 0.3ms. Switched the stimulator on after connected the poles to the needles, adjusted the intensity of output gradually from 0 milliampere to the extent of subject's maximum tolerance. Then needles would be remained on the body for half an hour.

Psychological Intervention

Other

Cognitive behavioral therapy was adopted by national accredited professional psychologist, in the form of team work and individual counseling, aim to help IA participants to understand their deviant behaviors, correct unhealthy cognitive states and eventually retrieve normal life style.

Primary outcomes

the change of the level of brain N-acetylaspartate on magnetic resonance spectroscopy from baseline at 40 days

Time frame: day 1 and the day after treatment(treatment covered 40 days) had completed

analysis
the change from baseline of the total scores on Internet Addiction Test(IAT) at 40 days

Time frame: day 1 and the day after treatment(treatment covered 40 days) had completed

questionnaire
the change of the level of brain choline on magnetic resonance spectroscopy from baseline at 40 days

Time frame: day 1 and the day after treatment(treatment covered 40 days) had completed

analysis

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2010
Primary completion: 2011
Study completion: 2012
First posted: Feb 13, 2015
Registry last updated: Feb 13, 2015

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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed