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Pilot Study on Auricular Acupuncture in Hospitalized Adults With Borderline Personality Disorder
Sponsor: Jenny Gentizon
Summary
The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a brief auricular acupuncture program delivered by mental health nurses as a complementary therapy for adults hospitalized with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is participation in the five-session auricular acupuncture program feasible (in terms of attendance) for hospitalized adults with borderline personality disorder? * Does the auricular acupuncture intervention show potential benefits on emotional regulation, anxiety, sleep quality, and overall clinical status? 15 hospitalized adults with BPD will receive 5 individual ear acupuncture sessions, over a 9-day period, based on the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (N.A.D.A.) protocol in addition to treatment as usual. Participants will complete brief questionnaires at several time points. The findings will inform the feasibility of the study procedures and guide the development of a future larger-scale clinical trial.
Official title: Feasibility and Preliminary Effectiveness of a Nurse-led Auricular Acupuncture Intervention as a Complementary Therapy to Usual Treatments: A Pilot Study in Adults Hospitalized in Psychiatric Units With Borderline Personality Disorder
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
15
Start Date
2026-04-15
Completion Date
2026-09
Last Updated
2026-03-17
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Auricular acupuncture program based on the N.A.D.A. protocol
Participants receive a brief, standardized auricular acupuncture intervention based on the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (N.A.D.A.) protocol. The intervention consists of five individual ear acupuncture sessions delivered over nine days, with approximately 24 hours between sessions. Sessions are conducted in the participant's hospital room between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. by mental health nurses certified as N.A.D.A. practitioners. Sterile, single-use needles are inserted at three to five standardized auricular points and retained for approximately 30 to 45 minutes. All participants continue to receive treatment as usual throughout the study period. Participants may pause or discontinue the intervention at any time without consequences.
Locations (1)
Psychiatric hospitalization units at the Prangins site of the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV)
Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland