~133 spots leftby Sep 2026

Acupuncture for Gulf War Syndrome (CARE Trial)

Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May be covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: N/A
Waitlist Available
Sponsor: University of Utah
No Placebo Group
Approved in 4 jurisdictions

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?This unblinded Phase II clinical trial will test the effects of individualized acupuncture treatments offered in extant acupuncture practices in the community; practitioners will have had at least 5 years of experience plus additional training provided by the study. Veterans with diagnosed symptoms of Gulf War Illness will be randomized to either six months of biweekly acupuncture treatments (group 1, n=100) or 2 months of waitlist followed by weekly acupuncture treatments (group 2, n=100). Measurements were taken at baseline, 2, 4 and 6 months. The primary outcome is the SF-36 physical component scale score (SF-36P).

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for veterans with Gulf War Illness, a condition affecting those who served in the Persian Gulf War. It includes chronic symptoms like fatigue and pain. Participants should have these symptoms but not other conditions like Klinefelter or Triple X Syndrome.

Inclusion Criteria

I served in the Gulf region from August 1990 to now.

Treatment Details

The study tests acupuncture's effectiveness on Gulf War Illness symptoms. Two groups of participants will receive treatments from experienced acupuncturists: one gets biweekly sessions for six months, the other starts with a two-month wait then weekly sessions.
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Bi-weekly acupuncture treatmentExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Bi-weekly acupuncture treatment
Group II: Wait listActive Control1 Intervention
Wait list for 2 months followed by weekly acupuncture for 4 months
Acupuncture is already approved in United States, European Union, China, Australia for the following indications:
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as Acupuncture for:
  • Pain management
  • Hot flashes
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Neuropathy
🇪🇺 Approved in European Union as Acupuncture for:
  • Pain management
  • Hot flashes
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
🇨🇳 Approved in China as Acupuncture for:
  • Pain management
  • Hot flashes
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Neuropathy
🇦🇺 Approved in Australia as Acupuncture for:
  • Pain management
  • Hot flashes
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Anxiety
  • Depression

Find a clinic near you

Research locations nearbySelect from list below to view details:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBoston, MA
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT
University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA
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Who is running the clinical trial?

University of UtahLead Sponsor
United States Department of DefenseCollaborator
University of California, BerkeleyCollaborator
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterCollaborator

References