Determining the Right Acupuncture for Good Recovery Over Neuropsychiatric Trauma (DRAGON)
Paul Crawford
Summary
This study seeks to verify that a specific acupuncture treatment is effective at reducing symptoms of neuropsychiatric trauma found in those diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Description
Traumatic stress experienced by service members negatively affects their ability to psychologically and emotionally cope with operational and family stressors. Physically, chronic pain complaints are higher in those with neuropsychiatric trauma. These can lead to a decrease in quality and duration of life. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classifies Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as an anxiety disorder (DSM). To achieve this diagnosis a person must be exposed to a traumatic event and then experience long lasting intrusive symptoms such as nightmares, irritabili…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–74 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Active Duty members and DoD beneficiaries(i.e. former military, spouse, dependent child), 18-65 years old * Meeting the criteria for PTSD based on PCL-5 (past month scores) score of 31 or higher * At least 1 positive response to at least one item on the LEC-5. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant, may be pregnant, or attempting to become pregnant. There areno known risks of this acupuncture in pregnant patients; however, we will exclude pregnancy due to the location of the needles (right over the uterus in 3rd trimester) and risk of exacerbating anxiety that may cause stress…
Interventions
- OtherDragons acupuncture
The treatment we are studying is supposed to help the rational and emotional brain effectively communicate, so that the emotional brain can finally realize the trauma experienced is no longer a threat. We call this re-processing. It does not take away the memory but it allows the rational brain to see the memory as just a memory without the emotional brain initiating your fight, flight or freeze system. This allows the mind to take the file off the messy desk and put it away. The treatment was named by the Chinese and is called "External and Internal Dragons". According to the Chinese, the External Dragons represent all the bad (traumatic) things that happen to us. The Internal Dragons live inside us, and fight off the External Dragons. Subject will lay on your stomach and have 7 needles placed in head, upper back, lower back and ankles.
- OtherDragons acupressure
The treatment we are studying is supposed to help the rational and emotional brain effectively communicate, so that the emotional brain can finally realize the trauma experienced is no longer a threat. We call this re-processing. It does not take away the memory but it allows the rational brain to see the memory as just a memory without the emotional brain initiating your fight, flight or freeze system. This allows the mind to take the file off the messy desk and put it away. The treatment was named by the Chinese and is called "External and Internal Dragons". According to the Chinese, the External Dragons represent all the bad (traumatic) things that happen to us. The Internal Dragons live inside us, and fight off the External Dragons. Subject will lay on your stomach and have 7 small acupressure adhesive bandages placed on head, upper back, lower back and ankles.
- OtherDragons placebo
The treatment we are studying is supposed to help the rational and emotional brain effectively communicate, so that the emotional brain can finally realize the trauma experienced is no longer a threat. We call this re-processing. It does not take away the memory but it allows the rational brain to see the memory as just a memory without the emotional brain initiating your fight, flight or freeze system. This allows the mind to take the file off the messy desk and put it away. The treatment was named by the Chinese and is called "External and Internal Dragons". According to the Chinese, the External Dragons represent all the bad (traumatic) things that happen to us. The Internal Dragons live inside us, and fight off the External Dragons. Subject will lay on your stomach and the doctor will touch 7 points on head, upper back, lower back and ankles.
Location
- Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical CenterNellis Air Force Base, Nevada