NCT06716411 Confirming the Effects of Acupuncture Treatments to Relieve Symptoms of Gulf War Illness
| NCT ID | NCT06716411 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Utah |
| Condition | Persian Gulf Syndrome |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 200 participants |
| Start Date | 2026-02-03 |
| Primary Completion | 2027-09-30 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 200 participants in total. It began in 2026-02-03 with a primary completion date of 2027-09-30.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
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
Inclusion Criteria: * Deployed to the Gulf Theater of operations (as defined by 38 CFR 3.317, includes Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the airspace above all of these locations) between August 1990 and the present date * Have at least 2 of the following symptoms from the 3 CDC clusters of symptom that have lasted for more than 6 months. Each symptom cluster must be characterized as mild-moderate or severe, with at least one symptom in each cluster required to be severe. The clusters are: A. Fatigability: fatigue 24 hours or more after exertion B. Mood and Cognition: feeling depressed; feeling irritable; difficulty thinking or concentrating; feeling worried, tense, anxious; problems finding words; or problems getting to sleep C. Musculoskeletal: joint pain or muscle pain Exclusion Criteria: * Currently enrolled in another clinical trial * Have another disease that likely could account for the symptoms, as determined by our Medical Monitor * Severe psychiatric illness (in the last 2 years psychiatric hospitalization, suicidal attempt, alcohol or substance abuse, use of antipsychotic medication) as measured by the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorder (Prime MD). * Unable to complete the protocol on based on the evaluation of the Medical Monitor.
Contact & Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT06716411 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Persian Gulf Syndrome. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT06716411 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT06716411 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at lisa_conboy@hms.harvard.edu for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT06716411 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Berkeley, United States, Los Angeles, United States, Colorado Springs, United States, Denver, United States and 6 additional locations.
Who is sponsoring the NCT06716411 clinical trial?
NCT06716411 is sponsored by University of Utah. The trial plans to enroll 200 participants.