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Electroacupuncture at Jing-Well Points for Chronic Disorders of Consciousness: A Randomized Controlled Study With Multimodal Assessment

NCT07551076 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 66

Last updated 2026-07-27

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Disorder of consciousness (DOC) is a common complication of severe central nervous system injury. It is defined as prolonged DOC when lasting more than 28 days. About 300,000-800,000 patients are affected worldwide, with an annual mortality rate of 29%-50%, causing a heavy social and family burden.

Although progress has been made in pathophysiology, clinical outcomes remain unsatisfactory, and arousal treatment for DOC is still challenging. Internationally recommended therapies, such as neurotrophic drugs, hyperbaric oxygen and invasive neuromodulation, have side effects or uncertain efficacy.

In traditional Chinese medicine, post-TBI DOC is classified as "shen hun" (mental clouding). Bloodletting at Jing-Well points promotes arousal by regulating qi and blood and unblocking collaterals. Preliminary studies showed it may improve consciousness in DOC patients, but with small samples and short observation periods.

Acupuncture, such as the Xingnao Kaiqiao method, induces arousal by improving cerebral blood flow and activating neural networks. Our team proposed the "Jing-Well point-brain correlation" hypothesis and found that electrostimulation at Jing-Well points improves cognitive function, but lacks standardized assessment and large-sample evidence.

Further research is needed to confirm its efficacy, mechanisms and suitable populations to provide high-quality evidence-based support.

Conditions

  • Disorder of Consciousness

Interventions

OTHER

Electrostimulation at the Twelve Hand Jing-Well Points

A Huatuo electroacupuncture apparatus (model: SDZ-V) was used. Stimulation was applied to bilateral Jing-Well points, with intensity adjusted to produce slight limb movement. Each session lasted 60 minutes, once daily, 6 times per week, for 3 consecutive weeks. Electro-press needles were replaced every two days to prevent infection.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

    collaborator OTHER

  • The Third People's Hospital of Huizhou

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Lvping Li, Master · The Third People's Hospital of Huizhou

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
72 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-07-23
Primary Completion
2026-12-30
Completion
2027-03-01

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07551076 on ClinicalTrials.gov