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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

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

Conditions
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Addiction

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: electro-acupuncture
* Other: psychological intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 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: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: electro-acupuncture<br>Receiving electro-acupuncture treatment once every other day, half an hour per treatment, 10 times as one treatment course, subjects received 2 courses of treatment. | Other: electro-acupuncture<br>* 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.<br>|
| Active Comparator: psychological intervention<br>Receiving cognitive behavioral therapy once every four days, each time two hours. Five times intervention as one treatment course, subjects received 2 courses of treatment. | Other: psychological intervention<br>* 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.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| the change of the level of brain N-acetylaspartate on magnetic resonance spectroscopy from baseline at 40 days | analysis | day 1 and the day after treatment(treatment covered 40 days) had completed | 
| the change from baseline of the total scores on Internet Addiction Test(IAT) at 40 days | questionnaire | day 1 and the day after treatment(treatment covered 40 days) had completed | 
| the change of the level of brain choline on magnetic resonance spectroscopy from baseline at 40 days | analysis | day 1 and the day after treatment(treatment covered 40 days) had completed |