The Effect of Acupuncture on Anxiety and Working Memory

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study endeavors to examine the relationship between acupuncture, anxiety, and performance on a test of working memory. In the study, all participants will complete the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) survey to determine how anxious they are at the moment and how anxious they tend to be in general. Then ½ of subjects will receive acupuncture for 20 minutes and ½ will rest quietly for 20 minutes. After this period, all subjects will again complete the STAI survey. Then all subjects will complete the Automated Operations Span Task (AOSPAN) which is a computerized test of working memory. Statistical analysis will be performed to determine if acupuncture had any effect on State-level anxiety and on performance on the AOSPAN.

Official Title
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The Effect of Acupuncture on Anxiety and Working Memory

Conditions
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Anxiety, Memory Impairment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Acupuncture


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Undergraduate University student Fluent in English Willing to receive acupuncture Aged 18-30 In good health Not pregnant Not breastfeeding Exclusion Criteria: Not an Undergraduate University student Not fluent in English Unwilling to receive acupuncture Under 18 years of age or older than 30 years of age Chronic disease Pregnant Breastfeeding

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control Group<br>Participants will be asked to make themselves comfortable lying on a massage table for 20 minutes. | |
| Active Comparator: Acupuncture group<br>Acupuncture group will receive one acupuncture treatment for twenty minutes. | Procedure: Acupuncture<br>* After completing questionnaires and anxiety survey, a licensed acupuncturist will insert needles according to Clean Needle Technique into specific acupuncture points. Procedure will last 20 minutes.Following acupuncture treatment, participants will complete anxiety survey and memory test.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in anxiety level | Participants will complete the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory survey to see how anxious they are initially; after acupuncture treatment or quiet resting, they will complete the survey again to see how anxious they are after the intervention. | Baseline and after1 hour | 
| Memory task | Following acupuncture treatment or resting control, participants will complete a standardized memory test (AOSPAN) to see if intervention affects memory. | After 1 hour | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Acupuncture, anxiety, memory