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Acupuncture Therapy VS Chiropractor Group Therapy to Reduce Anxiety and Depression.

A Controlled Clinical Trial of Group Acupuncture Therapy VS Chiropractor Group Therapy to Reduce Anxiety and Depression in People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A).

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05936905
Enrollment
30
Registered
2023-07-10
Start date
2022-12-06
Completion date
2024-08-01
Last updated
2025-07-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Depression, HIV/AIDS

Keywords

Anxiety and depression, People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A), Acupuncture, Chiropractor

Brief summary

This study aims to determine and compare acupuncture therapy and chiropractor group therapy to reduce anxiety and depression among HIV/AIDS patients at Being Alive, Los Angeles. In this controlled clinical trial, a total of 30 patients will be divided into two groups, 15 in the acupuncture therapy group, 15 in the chiropractor group therapy. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), The Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7- item scales (GAD-7) will be used as screening tools for depressive and anxiety symptoms respectively.

Detailed description

In this study, the objectives are to determine and compare the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety and find the most effective treatment method to assist patients in improving their quality of life utilizing holistic health treatments such as acupuncture and chiropractic to support their physical and mental health. Depression and anxiety are currently a major public health challenge worldwide especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Approximately 280 million people within the world have depression, and over 700,000 people die due to suicide per annum (WHO, 2021). This depression and anxiety in PLWHAs can result in poor quality of life, and quality of work, school, and family life. Also, risky sexual behavior, the spreading of the virus, and at its worst, depression can result in suicide. This controlled clinical trial will explore the treatment of acupuncture versus chiropractor care to seek out which treatment can help people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A) to reduce depression and anxiety among PLWH/A patients in Being Alive, Los Angeles.

Interventions

OTHERAcupuncture

Acupuncture 1 time per month

Chiropractic 1 time per month

Sponsors

Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Caregiver, Investigator)

Masking description

Single blind non randomized clinical trial.

Intervention model description

Staff members will administer the HADS, PHQ-9 and GAD-7 through a questionnaire. The scale is being administered to a convenience sample of 30 HIV/AIDs patients, divided into 15 samples of acupuncture treatment and 15 samples of chiropractor treatment, duration 3 months. Patients will complete questionnaire before and at the end of the treatments. Data to be collected includes socio-demographic. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The items are rated on 0, 1, 2, and 3 giving scores with minimum scores of 0 to 21. Scores on anxiety or depression subscales ranging from 0-7 are considered normal; 8-10 are considered cause for concern, borderline abnormal, and 11-21 are considered abnormal probable cases of anxiety or depression. The Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item(PHQ-9) if (score ≥9) significant mild depressive symptom and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, if (score 8+) probable anxiety disorder.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* single intervention only

Exclusion criteria

* chiropractic and acupuncture together

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)3 monthsSeven item questionnaire of each anxiety and depression. The items are rated on 0, 1, 2, and 3 giving scores with minimum scores of 0 to 21 maximum. Score interpretation on anxiety or depression subscales ranging from 0-7 considered non case, 8-10 considered possible case, and 11-21 considered probable case, which have been reclassified and relabeled as follows: 0-7 normal, 8-10 = mild, 11-15= moderate, and ≥16 = severe of anxiety or depression.
The Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9)3 monthsPatient Health Questionnaire for depression, score interpretation. Severity. The developers report the following interpretive guidelines for the PHQ-9 as a severity measure: 1-4 no depression, 5-9 = mild de- pression, 10-14= moderate depression, 15-19 = moderately severe depression, and 20-27= severe depression.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7)3 monthsAnxiety Disorder 7-item, scoring Scores of 5, 10, and 15 are taken as the cut-off points for mild, moderate, and severe anxiety, respectively.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026