UnknownNot Applicable

Electro-acupuncture for Long Covid Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

Hong Kong150 participantsStarted 2024-03-01

Plain-language summary

In this study, a 16-week randomized, sham-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial will be conducted to to investigate the efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture for treatment of long covid neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 80 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * adults over 18 years of age to 80; * history of SARS-CoV-2 PCR+ at least 4 weeks prior to study entry; SARS-CoV-2 negative (PCR) at study entry; * at least one persistent neurological symptom (impaired concentration, headache, sensory disturbances, or depression, or "brain fog") that began around the time of the acute COVID-19; * willing and able to consent, complete all assessment and study procedures. Exclusion Criteria: * any chronic or remote neurological disorder (i.e. stroke, head trauma, epilepsy, tumor); * intellectual disability pre-existing to the Covid-19 episode;cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmia, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and patients with cardiac pacemakers, * acute brain injury or acute encephalopathy from another aetiology than covid (e.g., sepsis, liver or renal failure, alcohol or drug withdrawal, drug toxicity); * documented pre-existing history of psychiatric illness, including substance abuse; * open-heart cardiac surgery or cardiac arrest during the last 6 months; * current hospitalization; * pregnant women.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Cognitive score on the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale

Timeframe: At baseline (before intervention), at 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks (the end of intervention) and 2 months after intervention (the end of follow-up).

Depression on the Chinese Beck Depression Inventory (CBDI)

Timeframe: At baseline (before intervention), at 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks (the end of intervention) and 2 months after intervention (the end of follow-up).

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05890508

SponsorHong Kong Baptist University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-01-31

Contact for this trial

Linda Zhong, MD., Ph.D

852 34116523 ldzhong0305@gmail.com

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Long Covid19 trials

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 80 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Cognitive score on the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale

Timeframe: At baseline (before intervention), at 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks (the end of intervention) and 2 months after intervention (the end of follow-up).

Depression on the Chinese Beck Depression Inventory (CBDI)

Timeframe: At baseline (before intervention), at 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks (the end of intervention) and 2 months after intervention (the end of follow-up).