Self-administered Acupressure for Depression

Last updated: February 27, 2024
Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Depression

Treatment

Mental health education group

Self-administered acupressure group

Clinical Study ID

NCT05631184
SelfAcupDep
19200171
  • Ages 18-65
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the effects of self-administered acupressure intervention for alleviating depressive symptoms among people with depression. It is hypothesized that the self-administered acupressure group would have a great improvement in depressive symptoms as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire compared with the mental health education group across the 12-week intervention period.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Is the self-administered acupressure intervention more effective for alleviating depression and other related outcomes compared to the mental health education group among depressed individuals?

  • Is the self-administered acupressure intervention acceptable and feasible for depressed individuals to alleviate depression? Participants will be randomized into self-administered acupressure group or mental health education group based on the group allocation with a 1:1 ratio. Participants will attend two weekly 120-min self-administered acupressure training or mental health education, respectively.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Hong Kong residents aged 18 to 65
  2. Can communicate in Cantonese and comprehend written Chinese
  3. Have moderate or above-level depression as measured by the PHQ-9 with a score of 10 orabove
  4. Willing to give informed consent and comply with the trial protocol.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Have the PHQ score of 20 or above (referral information to community psychologicalservices will be provided)
  2. New onset or change of antidepressant medication or dosage in the last 3 months
  3. Previous or current diagnosis of schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, or bipolardisorder as screened using the Chinese version of the Structured Clinical Interviewfor Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
  4. Have cognitive impairment diagnosed by the Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive Assessmentwith a score < 22
  5. Skin lesions or infections at the treatment sites
  6. Significant suicidal risk as rated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale item onsuicide (score ≥3)
  7. Pregnant or childbearing potential but not using adequate contraception
  8. With any major medical condition that causes depression based on the judgement of apsychiatrist.

Study Design

Total Participants: 250
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Mental health education group
Phase:
Study Start date:
December 15, 2022
Estimated Completion Date:
December 31, 2025

Connect with a study center

  • School of Nursing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University

    Hong Kong,
    Hong Kong

    Active - Recruiting

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