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Clinical Efficacy of Thumbtack Needle for Chronic Insomnia in Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women

Clinical Efficacy of Thumbtack Needle for Chronic Insomnia in Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07229976
Enrollment
198
Registered
2025-11-17
Start date
2026-03-20
Completion date
2029-12-30
Last updated
2026-03-17

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

Conditions

Chronic Insomnia During Perimenopause and Menopause

Brief summary

A multicenter, randomized, controlled, blinded clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of thumbtack needle on sleep in patients with chronic insomnia during perimenopause and menopause. Randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group using the central area method, with 99 patients in each group. The treatment group received thumbtack needle treatment, while the control group received placebo thumbtack needle treatment. The treatment course for both groups was 4 weeks.

Interventions

The treatment acupoints include bilateral Anmian Acupoint, bilateral Taichong acupoints, bilateral Neiguan acupoints, bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP6), and bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and Danzhong acupoints, a total of 11 acupoints. After 3 days of thumbtack needle retention, the patient went to the hospital where the doctor removed the thumbtack needle, disinfected the local skin, and received the next needle treatment. The patient received treatment twice a week (6 days) and rested for 1 day before continuing with the next treatment.

OTHERplacebo thumbtack needle

The placebo thumbtack needle group selected acupoints that were the same as the thumbtack needle group. Bilateral sleeping acupoints, bilateral Taichong acupoints, bilateral Neiguan acupoints, bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP6), bilateral Zusanli (ST36), and Danzhong acupoints are all treated with comforting acupressure.where the doctor removed the placebo thumbtack needle, disinfected the local skin, and received the next placebo thumbtack needle needle. The patient received treatment twice a week (6 days) and rested for 1 day before continuing with the next treatment.

Sponsors

Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
40 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Diagnostic criteria for perimenopause and menopause: * Perimenopausal period: a period of time from one year before the last menstrual period to the first year after the last menstrual period. Having at least one menstrual period in the past 12 months, or being under 55 years old, undergoing hysterectomy or endometrial ablation, but not bilateral oophorectomy; * Menopause: No menstruation in the past 12 months, or bilateral oophorectomy, or age 55 years or older, who has undergone hysterectomy or endometrial ablation; Diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia: ●The diagnostic criteria for insomnia in the third edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3) of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (all criteria A to F must be met). Inclusion Criteria: * Women aged 40 to 65 who meet the diagnostic criteria for perimenopause and menopause mentioned above; * Evaluate ISI score ≥ 12 points through a scale; * Meets the diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia mentioned above, i.e. ICSD-3 meets both criteria A to F; * Voluntarily participate in this study and sign an informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

Patients who meet any of the following conditions will not be included; * Use hormone replacement therapy, anti anxiety drugs, antidepressants, or medications to improve insomnia within one month; * Individuals with a history of diagnosed sleep disorders before menopause; * Combined with other sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, etc; * Patients with malignant tumors, especially estrogen dependent tumors (such as breast cancer and endometrial cancer); * Recent (within 6 months) history of myocardial infarction, stroke, venous thrombosis, etc; * Patients with mental illnesses, such as severe depression and uncontrolled schizophrenia; * Serious disorder of endocrine system, such as uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, diabetes ketoacidosis, etc * Patients with coagulation disorders, such as hemophilia, long-term use of anticoagulants (warfarin, aspirin, etc.), etc; * Long term alcohol consumption history (more than 5 years, daily alcohol consumption exceeding 12 taels, not quitting drinking); * Engaged in night shift work (\>3 times a week); * Individuals with infections, ulcers, burns, rashes, or scars at acupoints; * Previously received acupuncture treatment; * I do not agree to sign the informed consent form for this study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Insomnia Severity Index4 weeksThe Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a self-assessment tool used to evaluate the severity of insomnia. The ISI scale consists of 7 items, each rated on a scale of 0-4, with a total score range of 0-28 points. Evaluate the difference in scores between the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scale at the end of week 4 and baseline ISI scores.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pittsburgh sleep quality index4 weeksThe Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a widely used sleep quality assessment tool internationally. Evaluate the difference between the PSQI score at the end of week 4 and the baseline PSQI score.
Epworth Sleepiness Scale4 weeksThe Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a self-assessment tool used to evaluate an individual's level of daytime sleepiness. Evaluate the difference between the ESS score at the end of week 4 and the baseline ESS score.
Fatigue Severity Scale4 weeksThe Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) is currently one of the most commonly used scales for assessing fatigue symptoms in clinical practice. Assess the difference between FSS score at the end of week 4 and baseline FSS score .
Zung Self Rating Anxiety Scale4 weeksThe Zung Self Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) is used to assess the severity of an individual's anxiety symptoms over the past week. Evaluate the difference between the SAS score at the end of week 4 and the baseline SAS score.
Zung Self Rating Depression Scale4 weeksThe Zung Self Rating Depression Scale (SDS) is currently one of the most widely used self-assessment scales for depression. Evaluate the difference between SDS score at the end of week 4 and baseline SDS score.
Sleep efficiency2 weeks,4 weeksSleep efficiency refers to the ratio of actual sleep time to bed rest time. Evaluate the difference between sleep efficiency at the end of week 2 and week 4 and baseline sleep efficiency.
wake-up time after sleep onset2 weeks, 4 weeksAssess the difference between the wake-up time after sleep onset at the end of week 2 and week 4, and the wake-up time after baseline sleep onset.
the number of awakenings per night2 weeks, 4 weeksEvaluate the difference between the number of awakenings per night at the end of week 2 and week 4 compared to the baseline number of awakenings per night.
The latent period of sleep onset2 weeks, 4 weeksThe latent period of sleep onset refers to the time it takes from getting ready to sleep to actually entering a state of sleep. Evaluate the difference between the sleep onset latency at the end of week 2 and week 4 and the baseline sleep onset latency.
Total sleep time2 weeks, 4 weeksTotal sleep time refers to the total duration of continuous or intermittent sleep that an individual experiences within a certain period of time (usually 24 hours). Evaluate the difference between the total sleep time at the end of week 2 and week 4 and the baseline total sleep time.
the average wake-up time2 weeks, 4weeksEvaluate the difference between the average wake-up time at the end of week 2 and week 4 and the baseline average wake-up time.
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone4 weeksCorticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) is a peptide hormone secreted by the hypothalamus. Evaluate the difference in serum CRH concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
Norepinephrine4 weeksNorepinephrine is both a neurotransmitter and a hormone. Evaluate the difference in serum Norepinephrine concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
Adrenaline4 weeksAdrenaline is a hormone and neurotransmitter secreted by the adrenal medulla. Evaluate the difference in serum Adrenaline concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
5-hydroxytryptamine4 weeks5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), also known as serotonin, is an important monoamine neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in the physiological and psychological functions of the human body. Evaluate the difference in serum 5-HT concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
Gamma aminobutyric acid4 weeksGamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non protein amino acid widely present in the human body, animals, and plants, and is also an important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Evaluate the difference in serum GABA concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
Dopamine4 weeksDopamine is an important neurotransmitter that has a wide range of effects on human physiological and psychological functions. Evaluate the difference in serum Dopamine concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
Melatonin4 weeksMelatonin is an endogenous hormone secreted by the pineal gland of the human brain. Evaluate the difference in serum melatonin concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
β - endorphin4 weeksEvaluate the difference in serum β - endorphin concentration between the placebo group and the placebo group at the end of week 4.
insomnia remission rate4 weeksThe proportion of patients who no longer meet the diagnosis of insomnia after treatment among those receiving insomnia treatment. The diagnosis of insomnia refers to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, ICSD-3
Insomnia Treatment Response Rate4 weeksThe proportion of patients receiving insomnia treatment whose Insomnia Severity Index score decreased by 8 or more points after treatment
Insomnia Severity Index2 weeksThe Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a self-assessment tool used to evaluate the severity of insomnia. The ISI scale consists of 7 items, each rated on a scale of 0-4, with a total score range of 0-28 points. Evaluate the difference in scores between the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scale at the end of week 2 and baseline ISI scores.
Menopause Rating Scale4 weeksMenopause Rating Scale(MRS) is a widely used tool in clinical practice and research to assess the type and severity of menopause-related symptoms, particularly the subjective experience over the past 4 weeks.

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 18, 2026