The purpose of this study is to evaluate acupuncture as a treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and to correlate the diagnosis of PTSD with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnostic patterns.

Condition	Treatment or Intervention
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic	Procedure: Acupuncture  Behavior: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This study will evaluate: 1) the TCM diagnostic differentiation patterns of people who have PTSD as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th edition; 2) if an acupuncture treatment approach is acceptable to people with PTSD; and 3) if an acupuncture treatment approach is associated with a reduction in PTSD symptoms that is comparable to that of standard treatments. Because symptoms of depression, insomnia, and pain are often associated with PTSD, we will also evaluate the potential benefit of an acupuncture approach to depression, insomnia, and pain symptoms in people with PTSD.

Patients in this study will be randomized to one of three groups. Group A will receive acupuncture therapy. Group B will receive standard Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Group C is a control group and will receive no treatment. Patients in Groups A and B will undergo a total of 24 hours of therapy over the 3 month study course. All patients will have five nontherapeutic study visits; these visits will address diagnosis and assessment. Study visits will include assessments of PTSD symptoms, sleep symptoms, and level of impairment.

Ages Eligible for Study:  18 Years   -   65 Years,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD
• Stage I PTSD symptoms
• PTSD Symptom Scale-Self Report (PSS-SR) score > 16
• Meets PSS-SR diagnostic criteria

Exclusion Criteria

• Stage I substance abuse and/or dependence in the past 6 months
• Psychotic disorder
• Inability to commit to treatment or wait-list conditions
• Current treatment specifically for PTSD
• Certain medical conditions, including thyroid disease, class IV heart failure, active cancer treatment, and uncontrolled diabetes
• Pregnant
• Use of benzodiazepines, narcotics, opiates, narcotic antagonists, sleep medication, muscle relaxants, analgesics, or sedatives.

New Mexico
      University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center- Department of Psychiatry, Albuquerque,  New Mexico,  87131,  United States

Study ID Numbers:  1 R21 AT01229-01
Record last reviewed:  March 2004
Record first received:  February 26, 2003
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00055354
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2004-10-20