An interventional study of thumbtack needle and placebo thumbtack needle in Chronic Insomnia During Perimenopause and Menopause, sponsored by Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Not yet recruiting. Open to female participants aged 40 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-17.
Sponsored by Huazhong University of Science and Technology · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
A multicenter, randomized, controlled, blinded clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of thumbtack needle on sleep in patients with chronic insomnia during perimenopause and menopause. Randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group using the central area method, with 99 patients in each group. The treatment group received thumbtack needle treatment, while the control group received placebo thumbtack needle treatment. The treatment course for both groups was 4 weeks.
Huazhong University of Science and Technology is the lead sponsor of 241 studies on the registry; 60 are open to participants now.
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Diagnostic criteria for perimenopause and menopause:
Diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia:
●The diagnostic criteria for insomnia in the third edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3) of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (all criteria A to F must be met).
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients who meet any of the following conditions will not be included;
The subject received thumbtack needle
Other: thumbtack needle
The subject received placebo thumbtack needle
Other: placebo thumbtack needle
The treatment acupoints include bilateral Anmian Acupoint, bilateral Taichong acupoints, bilateral Neiguan acupoints, bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP6), and bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and Danzhong acupoints, a total of 11 acupoints. After 3 days of thumbtack needle retention, the patient went to the hospital where the doctor removed the thumbtack needle, disinfected the local skin, and received the next needle treatment. The patient received treatment twice a week (6 days) and rested for 1 day before continuing with the next treatment.
The placebo thumbtack needle group selected acupoints that were the same as the thumbtack needle group. Bilateral sleeping acupoints, bilateral Taichong acupoints, bilateral Neiguan acupoints, bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP6), bilateral Zusanli (ST36), and Danzhong acupoints are all treated with comforting acupressure.where the doctor removed the placebo thumbtack needle, disinfected the local skin, and received the next placebo thumbtack needle needle. The patient received treatment twice a week (6 days) and rested for 1 day before continuing with the next treatment.
Insomnia Severity Index
The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a self-assessment tool used to evaluate the severity of insomnia. The ISI scale consists of 7 items, each rated on a scale of 0-4, with a total score range of 0-28 points. Evaluate the difference in scores between the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scale at the end of week 4 and baseline ISI scores.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Pittsburgh sleep quality index
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a widely used sleep quality assessment tool internationally. Evaluate the difference between the PSQI score at the end of week 4 and the baseline PSQI score.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Epworth Sleepiness Scale
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a self-assessment tool used to evaluate an individual's level of daytime sleepiness. Evaluate the difference between the ESS score at the end of week 4 and the baseline ESS score.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Fatigue Severity Scale
The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) is currently one of the most commonly used scales for assessing fatigue symptoms in clinical practice. Assess the difference between FSS score at the end of week 4 and baseline FSS score .
Time frame: 4 weeks
Zung Self Rating Anxiety Scale
The Zung Self Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) is used to assess the severity of an individual's anxiety symptoms over the past week. Evaluate the difference between the SAS score at the end of week 4 and the baseline SAS score.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Zung Self Rating Depression Scale
The Zung Self Rating Depression Scale (SDS) is currently one of the most widely used self-assessment scales for depression. Evaluate the difference between SDS score at the end of week 4 and baseline SDS score.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Sleep efficiency
Sleep efficiency refers to the ratio of actual sleep time to bed rest time. Evaluate the difference between sleep efficiency at the end of week 2 and week 4 and baseline sleep efficiency.
Time frame: 2 weeks，4 weeks
wake-up time after sleep onset
Assess the difference between the wake-up time after sleep onset at the end of week 2 and week 4, and the wake-up time after baseline sleep onset.
Time frame: 2 weeks, 4 weeks
the number of awakenings per night
Evaluate the difference between the number of awakenings per night at the end of week 2 and week 4 compared to the baseline number of awakenings per night.
Time frame: 2 weeks, 4 weeks
The latent period of sleep onset
The latent period of sleep onset refers to the time it takes from getting ready to sleep to actually entering a state of sleep. Evaluate the difference between the sleep onset latency at the end of week 2 and week 4 and the baseline sleep onset latency.
Time frame: 2 weeks, 4 weeks
Total sleep time
Total sleep time refers to the total duration of continuous or intermittent sleep that an individual experiences within a certain period of time (usually 24 hours). Evaluate the difference between the total sleep time at the end of week 2 and week 4 and the baseline total sleep time.
Time frame: 2 weeks, 4 weeks
the average wake-up time
Evaluate the difference between the average wake-up time at the end of week 2 and week 4 and the baseline average wake-up time.
Time frame: 2 weeks, 4weeks
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) is a peptide hormone secreted by the hypothalamus. Evaluate the difference in serum CRH concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Norepinephrine
Norepinephrine is both a neurotransmitter and a hormone. Evaluate the difference in serum Norepinephrine concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Adrenaline
Adrenaline is a hormone and neurotransmitter secreted by the adrenal medulla. Evaluate the difference in serum Adrenaline concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
Time frame: 4 weeks
5-hydroxytryptamine
5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), also known as serotonin, is an important monoamine neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in the physiological and psychological functions of the human body. Evaluate the difference in serum 5-HT concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Gamma aminobutyric acid
Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non protein amino acid widely present in the human body, animals, and plants, and is also an important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Evaluate the difference in serum GABA concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Dopamine
Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that has a wide range of effects on human physiological and psychological functions. Evaluate the difference in serum Dopamine concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Melatonin
Melatonin is an endogenous hormone secreted by the pineal gland of the human brain. Evaluate the difference in serum melatonin concentration between the thumbtack needle group and the placebo thumbtack needle group at the end of week 4.
Time frame: 4 weeks
β - endorphin
Evaluate the difference in serum β - endorphin concentration between the placebo group and the placebo group at the end of week 4.
Time frame: 4 weeks
insomnia remission rate
The proportion of patients who no longer meet the diagnosis of insomnia after treatment among those receiving insomnia treatment. The diagnosis of insomnia refers to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, ICSD-3
Time frame: 4 weeks
Insomnia Treatment Response Rate
The proportion of patients receiving insomnia treatment whose Insomnia Severity Index score decreased by 8 or more points after treatment
Time frame: 4 weeks
Insomnia Severity Index
The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a self-assessment tool used to evaluate the severity of insomnia. The ISI scale consists of 7 items, each rated on a scale of 0-4, with a total score range of 0-28 points. Evaluate the difference in scores between the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scale at the end of week 2 and baseline ISI scores.
Time frame: 2 weeks
Menopause Rating Scale
Menopause Rating Scale（MRS） is a widely used tool in clinical practice and research to assess the type and severity of menopause-related symptoms, particularly the subjective experience over the past 4 weeks.
Time frame: 4 weeks
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Huazhong University of Science and Technology