An interventional study of TEA in Chronic Pancreatitis and Pancreatitis, sponsored by University of Michigan. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-06.
Sponsored by University of Michigan · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA) is a noninvasive acupuncture method that can be self-administered at home without needles. TEA transmits a weak electrical current using electrodes placed at acupoints and has shown to safely reduce pain in other gastrointestinal conditions. This study will help elucidate if TEA is effective in treating abdominal pain in patients with painful chronic pancreatitis (CP).
Pain in patients with CP is debilitating and impairs quality of life. Despite using medical, endoscopic, or surgical treatments, many patients continue experiencing substantial pain and some are prescribed long-term opioids. This clinical trial aims to assess the analgesic effect of a mild electrical stimulator called TEA. TEA consists of a small, wearable device that can be used at-home while doing daily activities. If effective, this could be an alternative non-pharmacological and non-invasive option to manage pain related to CP.
In this study, the investigators will conduct a randomized, sham-controlled, 2x2 crossover trial in patients with painful CP. Subjects will be randomized to receive either active TEA first followed by sham TEA, or sham TEA first followed by active TEA. Other than the application point in the skin, active and sham TEA will be identical. The study will examine the effect of TEA on pain severity (primary outcome), pain interference and overall pain experience (secondary outcomes). The study will be conducted over 12 weeks in 5 periods: run-in (1 week), treatment period 1 (4 weeks), washout (2 weeks), treatment period 2 (4 weeks), and close-out visit (1 week). Subjects will complete online questionnaires about pain and health throughout the duration of the study. There will be a total of 3 study visits that will be conducted at the main Ann Arbor Hospital or virtually. All the study tasks can be completed remotely. The study will recruit patients from a single clinical center and from self-referral from patients with CP in the US. The proposed study will advance our understanding on the role of TEA for non-opioid pain management of CP.
264 studies on the registry are indexed under Pancreatitis, Chronic; 73 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 42 is close to the median of 46 across 140 interventional studies indexed under Pancreatitis, Chronic.
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Subjects will undergo active TEA for 4 weeks (week 1-4) followed by a 2-week washout period and then sham TEA for 4 weeks (week 7-10). Subjects will have two instruction visits, one before starting active TEA and one before starting sham TEA.
Device: TEA
Subjects will undergo sham TEA for 4 weeks (week 1-4) followed by a 2-week washout period and then active TEA for 4 weeks (week 7-10). Subjects will have two instruction visits, one before starting active TEA and one before starting sham TEA.
Device: TEA
Active TEA or sham TEA will be self-administered at home over two daily treatment sessions of 30 minutes each in the morning and evening. Active TEA will be delivered through an active stimulation acupoint that has previously shown to reduce abdominal pain in other patient populations. Sham TEA will be administered at a different point a few cm away from the active site and that has been shown to be ineffective in reducing pain. Other than the location, the anatomical location, application of TEA and sham will be identical. The device will be programmed by the study team to generate fixed frequency, pulse width, and time on/time off during the pulsed stimulation. The subject is only able to change the stimulation output in a range from 0-10 milliampere.
Difference of the difference of the Pain Severity Score based the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF) between start and end of each treatment period
The 4 pain intensity items (worst, least, average, and current pain) are rated on an 11-point numerical rating scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain). A Pain Severity Score is calculated by adding the scores for the 4 items pertaining to pain intensity and then dividing this by 4. A higher number indicates higher levels of pain.
Time frame: Baseline-4 weeks and weeks 6-10
Difference of the difference of the Pain Interference Score on BPI-SF between start and end of each treatment period
The BPI-SF pain interference subscale includes 7 items evaluating the impact of pain on sleep, mood, walking ability, general activity, work, relationships, and enjoyment of life over the past 1 week rated on an 11-point scale from 0 = does not interfere to 10 = completely interferes. A Pain Interference Score is calculated by adding the scores for the 7 items pertaining to pain interference and then dividing by 7. This gives an interference score from 0 to 10 (higher score indicating more interference)
Time frame: Baseline-4 weeks and weeks 6-10
Difference of the difference of the average worst daily abdominal pain using a numeric rating scale (0-10) between start and end of each treatment period (baseline-4 weeks and weeks 6-10)
This will be based on using a numeric rating scale (0-10) with higher scores indicating more pain.
Time frame: Baseline-4 weeks and weeks 6-10
Difference of the difference of the Change of Comprehensive Pain Assessment Tool Short Form (COMPAT-SF) score between start and end of each treatment period
The COMPAT-SF carries 5 sub-scores for pain pattern, pain severity, pain provocation, pain spreading, and pain description, with higher scores denoting worse pain. Participants will complete 6 questions. A) The pain pattern scale ranges from 50-100; B) severity score ranges from 0-100; C) provocation score ranges from 0-70; D) spreading score ranges from 0-90 and E) description score ranges from 0-80. A total score ranges from 0-90 with higher scores denoting worse pain.
Time frame: Baseline-4 weeks and weeks 6-10
Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) at end of each treatment period between the intervention group and sham group
PGIC is a 1-item survey that measures patient perceptions of intervention success. This uses a 7-point Likert scale that will be used to asses analgesic response to TEA: 1) very much improved; 2) much improved; 3) minimally improved; 4) no change; 5) minimally worse; 6) much worse; and 7) very much worse.
Time frame: 4 weeks and 10 week
Predict difference of the difference of Pain Severity Score using pain widespreadedness at beginning of each treatment period
Baseline pain before each treatment period will be classified as 'localized' or 'widespread' using a body map. This will be used to predict change of pain severity score (pre minus post) assessed by BPI-SF.
Time frame: Baseline-4 weeks and weeks 6-10
Plan to share: No
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This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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