ClinicalTrials.gg
Status unknownNCT05107999Updated Aug 10, 2022

Stigma and Efficacy of Zhizhu Kuanzhong Capsules

An interventional study of Zhizhu Kuanzhong capsules (ZZKZ) and Doxepin Hydrochloride (Doxepin) in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Dyspepsia and Psychosomatic Disorder, sponsored by RenJi Hospital. Status unknown at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-08-10.

Sponsored by RenJi Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Aug 2022), so the status shown — last known as Recruiting — may be out of date.

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 7 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Feb 2021, registered Sep 2021).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
76
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Antidepressants are effective in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD), however, the stigma related with FD and antidepressants could affect treatment adherence and efficacy. Zhi Zhu Kuan Zhong capsules (ZZKZ), a traditional Chinese medicine fomula, showed therapeutic potential for FD. The study was designed to investigate whether ZZKZ could alleviate stigma in FD and obtain identical effects in patients with refractory FD.

Read the detailed description

Patients with dyspepsia have poor quality of life and emotional distress. The pathophysiology of FD is complex and multifactorial, including factors related to central nervous system and peripheral sensory system. Abundant drugs have been trialed to treat FD patients, but the treatment options remain limited and far from optimal. Antidepressants were beneficial in the treatment of FD. But the antidepressant prescriptions often aggravate the stigma of patients with FD, hinder doctor-patient communication, and reduce treatment compliance. Some patients with strong stigmatized feelings towards antidepressants refused to take the medications, and stigma related with antidepressants could ultimately affect the efficacy of FD. Zhizhu Kuanzhong capsules (ZZKZ), a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, had shown effectiveness in relieving dyspeptic symptoms. It has a long culture and history in promoting the function of brain and GI tract in whole, which is widely accepted by populations who were familiar with TCM. The study was designed to observe whether ZZKZ could alleviate stigma of patients and obtain identical effects in patients with FD, therefore provide a new insight in the treatment of FD.

02

Conditions studied

  • Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • Dyspepsia
  • Psychosomatic Disorder
03

In context

Gastrointestinal Diseases

548 studies on the registry are indexed under Gastrointestinal Diseases; 101 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 76 is close to the median of 80 across 388 interventional studies indexed under Gastrointestinal Diseases.

Browse Gastrointestinal Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

RenJi Hospital is the lead sponsor of 550 studies on the registry; 247 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • The inclusion criteria includes:
  • 18-70 years old;
  • education level higher than middle school;
  • met the Rome IV criteria for FD;
  • absence of abnormalities on physical examination, laboratory tests (including a routine blood test, blood glucose, and liver function examination), and abdominal imaging and GI endoscopy within 6 months;
  • absence of Helicobacter pylori infection;
  • signed written for participation in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • The exclusion criteria includes:
  • evidence of organic digestive diseases;
  • diabetes, cancer and other diseases might affect GI function;
  • pregnancy, lactation or breastfeeding;
  • a history of allergic reaction to any of the drugs used in the study;
  • participation in other clinical trials in the previous 3 months.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
76 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Zhizhu Kuanzhong(ZZKZ) group

    Patients in ZZKZ group were given ZZKZ (2 capsules tid) plus omeprazole (20 mg bid). ZZKZ was applied after each meal. Omeprazole was applied twice daily, before breakfast and supper.

    Drug: Zhizhu Kuanzhong capsules (ZZKZ)

  • Active comparator
    Doxepin group

    Patients in doxepin group were given doxepin (25 mg tid) plus omeprazole (20 mg bid). Doxepin was applied after each meal. Omeprazole was applied twice daily, before breakfast and supper.

    Drug: Doxepin Hydrochloride (Doxepin)

Interventions

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Changes of Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire (LDQ) scores at 4 weeks from baseline were obtained to assess the dyspepsia condition after treatment.

    The LDQ scores of 0-4 were classified as very mild dyspepsia, 5-8 as mild dyspepsia, 9-15 as moderate dyspepsia, and \>15 as severe or very severe dyspepsia.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  2. Changes of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores at 4 weeks from baseline were obtained to assess the depression condition after treatment.

    The PHQ-9 scores of 0-4 were classified as none or minimal depression, 5-9 as mild, 10-14 as moderate, 15-19 as moderately severe, and ≥20 as severe depression.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  3. Changes of Generalized Anxiety Questionnaire-7 (GAD-7) scores at 4 weeks from baseline were obtained to assess the anxiety condition after treatment.

    The GAD-7 scores of 0-4 were classified as the absence of anxiety, 5-9 as mild, 10-14 as moderate, and ≥15 as severe.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes of Internalized stigma scale (ISS) scores at 4 weeks from baseline were obtained to assess the internalized stigma of patients after treatment.

    The Internalized stigma scale (ISS) is a 24-item self-report questionnaire with items ranked on a 4-point Likert scale (strongly disagree = 1 to strongly agree = 4 points). The ISS scores are calculated by summing the values for each item and dividing by the number of questions answered for each scale. Higher scores indicate higher levels of ISS. The ISS scores of 1-2 were classifies as minimal, 2-2.5 as mild, 2.5-3 as moderate, 3-4 as severe.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  2. Changes of Perceived stigma scale (PSS) scores at 4 weeks from baseline were obtained to assess the perceived stigma of patients after treatment.

    The Perceived stigma scale (PSS) is a 10-item questionnaire with items ranked on a 5-point Likert scale (seldom = 1 to always = 5 points). The scores are calculated by summing the values for each item and dividing by the number of questions answered for each scale. Minimum to maximum score is 1 to 5 points. Higher scores indicate higher levels of PSS. The PSS scores of 1-2 were classifies as minimal, 2-3 as mild, 3-4 as moderate, 4-5 as severe.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Renji Hospital
    Shanghai, Shanghai, China
    Recruiting
    • Chen, PhD · Contact
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Xiao Y, Li Y, Shu J, Li Y, Xu J, Ren J, Liu D, Wang J, Zhou L, Li Y, Tang G, Tian D, Zhang S, Hou X, Wang H, Li Z, Lv N, Chen M. The efficacy of oral Zhizhu Kuanzhong, a traditional Chinese medicine, in patients with postprandial distress syndrome. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Mar;34(3):526-531. doi: 10.1111/jgh.14467. Epub 2018 Oct 12. PubMed 30207000 ↗
  • Gwee KA, Holtmann G, Tack J, Suzuki H, Liu J, Xiao Y, Chen MH, Hou X, Wu DC, Toh C, Lu F, Tang XD. Herbal medicines in functional dyspepsia-Untapped opportunities not without risks. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2021 Feb;33(2):e14044. doi: 10.1111/nmo.14044. Epub 2020 Nov 30. PubMed 33258198 ↗
  • Yan XJ, Luo QQ, Qiu HY, Ji CF, Chen SL. The impact of stigma on medication adherence in patients with functional dyspepsia. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2021 Feb;33(2):e13956. doi: 10.1111/nmo.13956. Epub 2020 Jul 27. PubMed 33184967 ↗
  • Feingold JH, Drossman DA. Deconstructing stigma as a barrier to treating DGBI: Lessons for clinicians. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2021 Feb;33(2):e14080. doi: 10.1111/nmo.14080. Epub 2021 Jan 23. PubMed 33484225 ↗
  • Holtmann G, Talley NJ. Herbal medicines for the treatment of functional and inflammatory bowel disorders. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015 Mar;13(3):422-32. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2014.03.014. Epub 2014 Mar 25. PubMed 24674944 ↗
  • Black CJ, Drossman DA, Talley NJ, Ruddy J, Ford AC. Functional gastrointestinal disorders: advances in understanding and management. Lancet. 2020 Nov 21;396(10263):1664-1674. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32115-2. Epub 2020 Oct 10. PubMed 33049221 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Started Feb 2021 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Aug 2022, 18 months after the start.

Of 127 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Gastrointestinal Diseases, half reached primary completion within 26 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 46. This study's planned 18 months is below that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 149 studies reached it within 24 months; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 45.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Sep 26, 2021
First posted
Nov 4, 2021
StartActual
Feb 1, 2021
Primary completionEst.
Aug 1, 2022
CompletionEst.
Sep 1, 2022
Last update
Aug 10, 2022
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 10, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05107999
Lead sponsor
RenJi Hospital
Responsible party
Shengliang Chen (professor, chief physician, RenJi Hospital) — Principal investigator
First posted
Nov 4, 2021
Start date
Feb 1, 2021
Primary completion
Aug 1, 2022 (estimated)
Completion
Sep 1, 2022 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 10, 2022

Study contacts

Sheng-Liang Chen, PhD
Contact
chenshengliang011774@renji.com
021-53882113
Sheng-Liang Chen, PhD
principal investigator · Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Renji Hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Studies of the drug tested here: Drugs, Chinese Herbal

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