DepressionNCT05102253
Acupuncture for Women Victims of Domestic Violence With Psychiatric Sequelae
A study testing Dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS) and Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in people with Depression and Domestic Violence, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
This is an assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. A total of 110 women victims of domestic violence aged 18-65 years will be recruited from local community centers and domestic violence shelters (refugee centers). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Depression, Domestic Violence, Psychiatric Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS) and Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS)
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 110 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 13 Jul 2022to 30 Jun 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Chinese women aged 18-65 years;
- have experienced domestic violence in the previous two years, confirmed with the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) Screen Questionnaire; and
- are currently experiencing a major depressive episode according to the criteria defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), with a BDI-II score of at least 14.
Who cannot join
- have serious medical conditions that may limit their participation in TEAS or DCEAS;
- have a history of brain injury or surgery;
- pregnancy or lactation;
- have investigational drug treatment in the previous 6 months;
- have heart pacemaker or other metal/electrical devices implanted in the body; or
- have severe needle phobia.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) and Dense Cranial Electroacupuncture Stimulation (DCEAS) for Psychiatric Sequelae and Related Biomarkers in Women Victims of Domestic Violence: a Randomized Controlled Trial
This is an assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. A total of 110 women victims of domestic violence aged 18-65 years will be recruited from local community centers and domestic violence shelters (refugee centers). They will be randomly assigned to routine care combined with (n = 55) and without (n = 55) additional acupuncture (TEAS+DCEAS) for 12 weeks. Acupuncture therapy will be conducted with 2 DCEAS sessions at clinics and 3 TEAS sessions at home each week. The primary outcome is the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) for depression. Secondary outcomes include the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) for depression, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) for stress, PTSD Check List-Civilian Version (PCL-C) for PTSD symptoms, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) for sleep and 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) for quality of life. Two 10-ml blood samples will be drawn respectively at baseline and at the end of 12-week study. A generalized linear mixed-effect model will be applied to compare treatment outcomes over time in the two groups and linear regression will be conducted to examine inter-correlations among clinical improvement and changes in biomarker levels.
Read the detailed description
Domestic violence, also referred to as intimate partner violence which overwhelmingly targets women of marriage and cohabitation, is a serious global public health issue with nearly 30% of women who have experienced physical or sexual abuse by their intimate partners. In Hong Kong, there were 4.5%-10% of women who experienced a physical violence and approximately 14,000 domestic violence cases reported to police offices each year. Depression is the most common psychiatric sequela of domestic violence, with an average prevalence of 47.6% among women victims. Recent study has shown that 65.2% women survivors of intimate partner violence had mild to severe depression. Abused women also often experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, substance abuse, and even suicidal thoughts. Although multiple psychological therapies, such as advocacy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and empowerment are a mainstay of domestic violence victim interventions, a large portion of the victims could not achieve satisfactory response and have low acceptability for psychological interventions; this seems to be particularly apparent in Asian women. Psychological interventions may be limited to patients with mild symptoms with long-term engagement of professionals. The development of non-psychological therapies is therefore highly desired.
Acupuncture has been widely introduced into local clinics and hospitals of Hong Kong. Numerous studies have shown benefits and efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety. In addition to traditional invasive acupuncture in which needles are inserted into acupoints on the body, a non-invasive acupuncture mode called transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) also has been used in the treatment of postoperative anxiety, depression, autism, smoking cessation, and drug dependence. Compared to invasive acupuncture, obviously, TEAS is more acceptable to patients and physicians as it is non-invasive, safer, and time-saving, without causing pain and needle phobia. Furthermore, TEAS can be performed by patients themselves at home. These suggest that a combination of invasive acupuncture and TEAS could serve as an effective and more acceptable intervention for the victims.
Over the past decade, the effectiveness of advocacy and Qigong interventions in domestic violence women victims has been evaluated. Also, investigators have completed a series of epidemiological and methodological studies on women victims of domestic violence in local and international communities, with over 30 related papers published. On the other hand, a novel acupuncture stimulation called dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS) based on neuroanatomical rationales has been developed. In this mode, electrical stimulation is delivered on dense acupoints located on the forehead innervated by the trigeminal nerve. Several clinical trials have confirmed the benefits and efficacy of DCEAS in patients with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke. Moreover, two large-scale clinical trials have shown that patients with OCD and PTSD achieved an approximately 20% higher clinical remission rate on TEAS combined with CBT and/or antidepressants than those without TEAS. These results provide a solid foundation for further evaluation of the effectiveness of combining TEAS and DCEAS.
Besides, preliminary study has shown that several blood biomarkers were significantly correlated with the severity of depression and stress trauma. Determining relationships between potential biomarkers and the severity of psychiatric symptoms will lead people to better understand the pathogenesis of stress trauma and biochemical mechanisms of acupuncture effects.
These studies have led us to hypothesize that additional therapy with a combination of TEAS and DCEAS produces better outcomes than routine care alone in improving depression and other psychiatric sequelae of domestic violence; the therapeutic effects of acupuncture may be associated with the change of related biomarkers.
To test this hypothesis, an assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial will be conducted to pursue the following two aims: (1) to compare the effectiveness of routine care with and without additional acupuncture in treating depression, stress, PTSD, insomnia symptoms, and quality of life of domestic violence women victims; and (2) to determine baseline-to-endpoint changes in levels of different blood biomarkers and their correlations with clinical outcomes.
- Conditions
- Depression, Domestic Violence, Psychiatric Disorder
- Being tested
- Dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS), Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), Wait-list control: Routine care
- Keywords
- Depression, Domestic Violence, Psychiatric Sequelae, Acupuncture, Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation, TEAS, Dense Cranial Electroacupuncture Stimulation, DCEAS
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Mental Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS)Procedure or surgery
DCEAS will be conducted for 2 sessions per week for 12 consecutive weeks. Electrical stimulation will be conducted on six pairs of forehead acupoints located on the frontal, parietal, and temporal scalp areas. The acupoints includes: Bai-Hui (GV20), Yin-Tang (EX-HN3), left and right Si-Shen-Cong (EX-HN1), Tou-Lin-Qi (GB15), Shuai-Gu (GB8), Tai-Yang (EX-HN5) and Tou-Wei (ST8).
Disposable acupuncture needles will be inserted at a depth of 10-30 mm perpendicularly or obliquely into acupoints. Manual manipulation will be carried out for all acupoints to evoke needling sensation, followed by electrical stimulation. The stimulation intensity will be adjusted to a level at which patients felt most comfortable. Each session of treatment will last 30 min.
Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS)Procedure or surgery
TEAS will be done for 3 times per week for 12 consecutive weeks by participants at home. A training workshop will be conducted to instruct participants how to use TEAS stimulator. Briefly, TEAS will be delivered on the bilateral Nei-Guan (PC6), which is located on the anterior forearm, between the tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis, at the junction of the distal sixth and proximal five sixths of the line connecting the middle points of the wrist and elbow crease.
Constant current electrical impulses will be produced from a TEAS apparatus. Two electrode pads will be adhered onto the acupoint skin. The pulse amplitude will be adjusted to a level at which the perception of 'strong but comfortable' is achieved. Each session of treatment will last 30 min.
Wait-list control: Routine careOther
The routine care may include medications, advocacy intervention, and CBT. Post-trial treatment of TEAS+DCEAS will be offered to serve as a compensation for their participation.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| TEAS+DCEAS group | Experimental | Subjects assigned to TEAS+DCEAS group will receive TEAS+DCEAS in addition to routine care. Receives: Procedure: Dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS); Procedure: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) |
| Wait-list control: Routine care group | Other | Subjects assigned to this group will continue their current routine care as usual. Receives: Other: Wait-list control: Routine care |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Changes in Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
BDI-II is used to measure the severity of depression. Higher scores indicate greater severity. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, week 3, week 6 and week 12.
Measured: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Secondary outcomes (6)
Changes in 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17)
HAMD-17 is used to measure the severity of depression. Higher scores indicate greater severity. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, week 3, week 6 and week 12.
Measured: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Changes in Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Stress is measured using PSS. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, week 3, week 6 and week 12.
Measured: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Changes in PTSD Check List-Civilian Version (PCL-C)
PTSD symptoms are measured using PCL-C. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, week 3, week 6 and week 12.
Measured: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Changes in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
Severity of insomnia are measured using ISI. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, week 3, week 6 and week 12.
Measured: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Changes in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Sleep quality is assessed using PSQI. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, week 3, week 6 and week 12.
Measured: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Changes in 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12)
Quality of life is measured using SF-12. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, week 3, week 6 and week 12.
Measured: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Nov 2021
- Study start13 Jul 2022
- Primary completion31 Dec 2024
- Study completion30 Jun 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (21)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for DepressionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 110 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Prof. Zhang Zhang-Jin, The University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- Zhang-Jin Zhang, MMed, PhD, Principal investigator, The University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05102253
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UW 21-238
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 27 Sep 2021
- Last updated
- 20 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Tiwari A, Fong DY, Yuen KH, Yuk H, Pang P, Humphreys J, Bullock L. Effect of an advocacy intervention on mental health in Chinese women survivors of intimate partner violence: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2010 Aug 4;304(5):536-43. doi: 10.1001/jama.2010.1052.
PubMed 20682933Cheung DST, Deng W, Tsao SW, Ho RTH, Chan CLW, Fong DYT, Chau PH, Hong AWL, Fung HYKY, Ma JLC, Tiwari AFY. Effect of a Qigong Intervention on Telomerase Activity and Mental Health in Chinese Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Jan 4;2(1):e186967. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.6967.
PubMed 30646209Hackett S, McWhirter PT, Lesher S. The Therapeutic Efficacy of Domestic Violence Victim Interventions. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2016 Apr;17(2):123-32. doi: 10.1177/1524838014566720. Epub 2015 Jan 22.
PubMed 25612799Sun KS, Lam TP, Piterman L, Lam KF, Tang WS, Kwok KW, Chan HY, Wu D, Tiwari A. Management of Domestic Violence by Primary Care Physicians in Hong Kong: Association With Barriers, Attitudes, Training, and Practice Background. J Interpers Violence. 2021 Oct;36(19-20):9623-9647. doi: 10.1177/0886260519869067. Epub 2019 Aug 17.
PubMed 31423927Amorim D, Amado J, Brito I, Fiuza SM, Amorim N, Costeira C, Machado J. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture for anxiety disorders: A systematic review of the clinical research. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 May;31:31-37. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.01.008. Epub 2018 Jan 31.
PubMed 29705474World Health Organization. Global and regional estimates of violence against women: prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2013.
Smith CA, Armour M, Lee MS, Wang LQ, Hay PJ. Acupuncture for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Mar 4;3(3):CD004046. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004046.pub4.
PubMed 29502347Feng B, Zhang Y, Luo LY, Wu JY, Yang SJ, Zhang N, Tan QR, Wang HN, Ge N, Ning F, Zheng ZL, Zhu RM, Qian MC, Chen ZY, Zhang ZJ. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for post-traumatic stress disorder: Assessor-blinded, randomized controlled study. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2019 Apr;73(4):179-186. doi: 10.1111/pcn.12810. Epub 2019 Jan 22.
PubMed 30565342Feng B, Zhang ZJ, Zhu RM, Yuan GZ, Luo LY, McAlonan GM, Xu FZ, Chen J, Liu LY, Lv YY, Wong HK, Zhang Y, Zhu LX. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation as an adjunct therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized controlled study. J Psychiatr Res. 2016 Sep;80:30-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.05.015. Epub 2016 May 28.
PubMed 27281260Greene MC, Rees S, Likindikoki S, Bonz AG, Joscelyne A, Kaysen D, Nixon RDV, Njau T, Tankink MTA, Tiwari A, Ventevogel P, Mbwambo JKK, Tol WA. Developing an integrated intervention to address intimate partner violence and psychological distress in Congolese refugee women in Tanzania. Confl Health. 2019 Aug 17;13:38. doi: 10.1186/s13031-019-0222-0. eCollection 2019.
PubMed 31428190Wong JY, Tiwari A, Fong DY, Bullock L. A Cross-Cultural Understanding of Depression Among Abused Women. Violence Against Women. 2016 Oct;22(11):1371-96. doi: 10.1177/1077801215624791. Epub 2016 Jan 21.
PubMed 26796779Zhang ZJ, Wang XM, McAlonan GM. Neural acupuncture unit: a new concept for interpreting effects and mechanisms of acupuncture. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:429412. doi: 10.1155/2012/429412. Epub 2012 Mar 8.
PubMed 22474503Zhang ZJ, Ng R, Man SC, Li TY, Wong W, Tan QR, Wong HK, Chung KF, Wong MT, Tsang WK, Yip KC, Ziea E, Wong VT. Dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation for major depressive disorder--a single-blind, randomized, controlled study. PLoS One. 2012;7(1):e29651. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029651. Epub 2012 Jan 6.
PubMed 22238631Zhang ZJ, Zhao H, Jin GX, Man SC, Wang YS, Wang Y, Wang HR, Li MH, Yam LL, Qin ZS, Yu KT, Wu J, Ng FB, Ziea TE, Rong PJ. Assessor- and participant-blinded, randomized controlled trial of dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation plus body acupuncture for neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2020 Mar;74(3):183-190. doi: 10.1111/pcn.12959. Epub 2019 Dec 20.
PubMed 31747095Zhang ZJ, Wang XY, Tan QR, Jin GX, Yao SM. Electroacupuncture for refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: a pilot waitlist-controlled trial. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2009 Aug;197(8):619-22. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181b05fd1.
PubMed 19684500
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) and Dense Cranial Electroacupuncture Stimulation (DCEAS) for Psychiatric Sequelae and Related Biomarkers in Women Victims of Domestic Violence: a Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05102253
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UW 21-238
- Conditions
- Depression, Domestic Violence, Psychiatric Disorder
- Keywords
- Depression, Domestic Violence, Psychiatric Sequelae, Acupuncture, Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation, TEAS, Dense Cranial Electroacupuncture Stimulation, DCEAS
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 110 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 13 Jul 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 Nov 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This is an assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. A total of 110 women victims of domestic violence aged 18-65 years will be recruited from local community centers and domestic violence shelters (refugee centers). They will be randomly assigned to routine care combined with (n = 55) and without (n = 55) additional acupuncture (TEAS+DCEAS) for 12 weeks. Acupuncture therapy will be conducted with 2 DCEAS sessions at clinics and 3 TEAS sessions at home each week. The primary outcome is the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) for depression. Secondary outcomes include the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) for depression, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) for stress, PTSD Check List-Civilian Version (PCL-C) for PTSD symptoms, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) for sleep and 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) for quality of life. Two 10-ml blood samples will be drawn respectively at baseline and at the end of 12-week study. A generalized linear mixed-effect model will be applied to compare treatment outcomes over time in the two groups and linear regression will be conducted to examine inter-correlations among clinical improvement and changes in biomarker levels.
Detailed description
Domestic violence, also referred to as intimate partner violence which overwhelmingly targets women of marriage and cohabitation, is a serious global public health issue with nearly 30% of women who have experienced physical or sexual abuse by their intimate partners. In Hong Kong, there were 4.5%-10% of women who experienced a physical violence and approximately 14,000 domestic violence cases reported to police offices each year. Depression is the most common psychiatric sequela of domestic violence, with an average prevalence of 47.6% among women victims. Recent study has shown that 65.2% women survivors of intimate partner violence had mild to severe depression. Abused women also often experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, substance abuse, and even suicidal thoughts. Although multiple psychological therapies, such as advocacy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and empowerment are a mainstay of domestic violence victim interventions, a large portion of the victims could not achieve satisfactory response and have low acceptability for psychological interventions; this seems to be particularly apparent in Asian women. Psychological interventions may be limited to patients with mild symptoms with long-term engagement of professionals. The development of non-psychological therapies is therefore highly desired.
Acupuncture has been widely introduced into local clinics and hospitals of Hong Kong. Numerous studies have shown benefits and efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety. In addition to traditional invasive acupuncture in which needles are inserted into acupoints on the body, a non-invasive acupuncture mode called transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) also has been used in the treatment of postoperative anxiety, depression, autism, smoking cessation, and drug dependence. Compared to invasive acupuncture, obviously, TEAS is more acceptable to patients and physicians as it is non-invasive, safer, and time-saving, without causing pain and needle phobia. Furthermore, TEAS can be performed by patients themselves at home. These suggest that a combination of invasive acupuncture and TEAS could serve as an effective and more acceptable intervention for the victims.
Over the past decade, the effectiveness of advocacy and Qigong interventions in domestic violence women victims has been evaluated. Also, investigators have completed a series of epidemiological and methodological studies on women victims of domestic violence in local and international communities, with over 30 related papers published. On the other hand, a novel acupuncture stimulation called dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS) based on neuroanatomical rationales has been developed. In this mode, electrical stimulation is delivered on dense acupoints located on the forehead innervated by the trigeminal nerve. Several clinical trials have confirmed the benefits and efficacy of DCEAS in patients with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke. Moreover, two large-scale clinical trials have shown that patients with OCD and PTSD achieved an approximately 20% higher clinical remission rate on TEAS combined with CBT and/or antidepressants than those without TEAS. These results provide a solid foundation for further evaluation of the effectiveness of combining TEAS and DCEAS.
Besides, preliminary study has shown that several blood biomarkers were significantly correlated with the severity of depression and stress trauma. Determining relationships between potential biomarkers and the severity of psychiatric symptoms will lead people to better understand the pathogenesis of stress trauma and biochemical mechanisms of acupuncture effects.
These studies have led us to hypothesize that additional therapy with a combination of TEAS and DCEAS produces better outcomes than routine care alone in improving depression and other psychiatric sequelae of domestic violence; the therapeutic effects of acupuncture may be associated with the change of related biomarkers.
To test this hypothesis, an assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial will be conducted to pursue the following two aims: (1) to compare the effectiveness of routine care with and without additional acupuncture in treating depression, stress, PTSD, insomnia symptoms, and quality of life of domestic violence women victims; and (2) to determine baseline-to-endpoint changes in levels of different blood biomarkers and their correlations with clinical outcomes.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| TEAS+DCEAS group | Experimental | Procedure: Dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS), Procedure: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS)Subjects assigned to TEAS+DCEAS group will receive TEAS+DCEAS in addition to routine care. |
| Wait-list control: Routine care group | Other | Other: Wait-list control: Routine careSubjects assigned to this group will continue their current routine care as usual. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Chinese women aged 18-65 years;
- have experienced domestic violence in the previous two years, confirmed with the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) Screen Questionnaire; and
- are currently experiencing a major depressive episode according to the criteria defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), with a BDI-II score of at least 14.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- have serious medical conditions that may limit their participation in TEAS or DCEAS;
- have a history of brain injury or surgery;
- pregnancy or lactation;
- have investigational drug treatment in the previous 6 months;
- have heart pacemaker or other metal/electrical devices implanted in the body; or
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS)DCEAS will be conducted for 2 sessions per week for 12 consecutive weeks. Electrical stimulation will be conducted on six pairs of forehead acupoints located on the frontal, parietal, and temporal scalp areas. The acupoints includes: Bai-Hui (GV20), Yin-Tang (EX-HN3), left and right Si-Shen-Cong (EX-HN1), Tou-Lin-Qi (GB15), Shuai-Gu (GB8), Tai-Yang (EX-HN5) and Tou-Wei (ST8). Disposable acupuncture needles will be inserted at a depth of 10-30 mm perpendicularly or obliquely into acupoints. Manual manipulation will be carried out for all acupoints to evoke needling sensation, followed by electrical stimulation. The stimulation intensity will be adjusted to a level at which patients felt most comfortable. Each session of treatment will last 30 min. | Procedure or surgery | TEAS+DCEAS group |
| Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS)TEAS will be done for 3 times per week for 12 consecutive weeks by participants at home. A training workshop will be conducted to instruct participants how to use TEAS stimulator. Briefly, TEAS will be delivered on the bilateral Nei-Guan (PC6), which is located on the anterior forearm, between the tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis, at the junction of the distal sixth and proximal five sixths of the line connecting the middle points of the wrist and elbow crease. Constant current electrical impulses will be produced from a TEAS apparatus. Two electrode pads will be adhered onto the acupoint skin. The pulse amplitude will be adjusted to a level at which the perception of 'strong but comfortable' is achieved. Each session of treatment will last 30 min. | Procedure or surgery | TEAS+DCEAS group |
| Wait-list control: Routine careThe routine care may include medications, advocacy intervention, and CBT. Post-trial treatment of TEAS+DCEAS will be offered to serve as a compensation for their participation. | Other | Wait-list control: Routine care group |
Primary outcome
Changes in Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
BDI-II is used to measure the severity of depression. Higher scores indicate greater severity. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, week 3, week 6 and week 12.
6 secondary outcomes
Changes in 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Changes in Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Changes in PTSD Check List-Civilian Version (PCL-C)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Changes in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Changes in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Changes in 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Jul 2025.
- Background: PubMed 20682933Tiwari A, Fong DY, Yuen KH, Yuk H, Pang P, Humphreys J, Bullock L. Effect of an advocacy intervention on mental health in Chinese women survivors of intimate partner violence: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2010 Aug 4;304(5):536-43. doi: 10.1001/jama.2010.1052.
- Background: PubMed 30646209Cheung DST, Deng W, Tsao SW, Ho RTH, Chan CLW, Fong DYT, Chau PH, Hong AWL, Fung HYKY, Ma JLC, Tiwari AFY. Effect of a Qigong Intervention on Telomerase Activity and Mental Health in Chinese Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Jan 4;2(1):e186967. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.6967.
- Background: PubMed 25612799Hackett S, McWhirter PT, Lesher S. The Therapeutic Efficacy of Domestic Violence Victim Interventions. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2016 Apr;17(2):123-32. doi: 10.1177/1524838014566720. Epub 2015 Jan 22.
- Background: PubMed 31423927Sun KS, Lam TP, Piterman L, Lam KF, Tang WS, Kwok KW, Chan HY, Wu D, Tiwari A. Management of Domestic Violence by Primary Care Physicians in Hong Kong: Association With Barriers, Attitudes, Training, and Practice Background. J Interpers Violence. 2021 Oct;36(19-20):9623-9647. doi: 10.1177/0886260519869067. Epub 2019 Aug 17.
- Background: PubMed 29705474Amorim D, Amado J, Brito I, Fiuza SM, Amorim N, Costeira C, Machado J. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture for anxiety disorders: A systematic review of the clinical research. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 May;31:31-37. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.01.008. Epub 2018 Jan 31.
- BackgroundWorld Health Organization. Global and regional estimates of violence against women: prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2013.
- Background: PubMed 29502347Smith CA, Armour M, Lee MS, Wang LQ, Hay PJ. Acupuncture for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Mar 4;3(3):CD004046. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004046.pub4.
- Background: PubMed 30565342Feng B, Zhang Y, Luo LY, Wu JY, Yang SJ, Zhang N, Tan QR, Wang HN, Ge N, Ning F, Zheng ZL, Zhu RM, Qian MC, Chen ZY, Zhang ZJ. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for post-traumatic stress disorder: Assessor-blinded, randomized controlled study. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2019 Apr;73(4):179-186. doi: 10.1111/pcn.12810. Epub 2019 Jan 22.
- Background: PubMed 27281260Feng B, Zhang ZJ, Zhu RM, Yuan GZ, Luo LY, McAlonan GM, Xu FZ, Chen J, Liu LY, Lv YY, Wong HK, Zhang Y, Zhu LX. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation as an adjunct therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized controlled study. J Psychiatr Res. 2016 Sep;80:30-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.05.015. Epub 2016 May 28.
- Background: PubMed 31428190Greene MC, Rees S, Likindikoki S, Bonz AG, Joscelyne A, Kaysen D, Nixon RDV, Njau T, Tankink MTA, Tiwari A, Ventevogel P, Mbwambo JKK, Tol WA. Developing an integrated intervention to address intimate partner violence and psychological distress in Congolese refugee women in Tanzania. Confl Health. 2019 Aug 17;13:38. doi: 10.1186/s13031-019-0222-0. eCollection 2019.
- Background: PubMed 26796779Wong JY, Tiwari A, Fong DY, Bullock L. A Cross-Cultural Understanding of Depression Among Abused Women. Violence Against Women. 2016 Oct;22(11):1371-96. doi: 10.1177/1077801215624791. Epub 2016 Jan 21.
- Background: PubMed 22474503Zhang ZJ, Wang XM, McAlonan GM. Neural acupuncture unit: a new concept for interpreting effects and mechanisms of acupuncture. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:429412. doi: 10.1155/2012/429412. Epub 2012 Mar 8.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Zhang-Jin Zhang, MMed, PhD principal investigator
The University of Hong Kong
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS) and Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in people with Depression and Domestic Violence, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Changes in Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) (time frame: Baseline, Week 3, Week 6 and Week 12). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05102253, which also lists 21 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Jul 2025.