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Acupuncture for Gulf War Illness Symptoms

This study is looking at whether acupuncture can help relieve symptoms of Gulf War Illness (GWI), also known as chronic multisymptom illness. GWI can cause fatigue, sleep problems, pain, and other issues. The study will involve 200 veterans who were deployed to the Gulf Theater and have at least two GWI symptoms. You would receive individualized acupuncture treatments from experienced practitioners. Researchers will measure your physical health using a questionnaire (SF-36P) over six months to see if acupuncture helps improve your symptoms. The study's current status is unclear.

Study design
This is an unblinded Phase II interventional study with 200 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups.
What's involved
Participants will either receive biweekly acupuncture treatments for six months or wait two months before starting weekly acupuncture treatments. Measurements will be taken at baseline, 2, 4, and 6 months.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your physical health will be measured at 6 months after starting the study.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06716411

Confirming the Effects of Acupuncture Treatments to Relieve Symptoms of Gulf War Illness

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
University of Utah
~200 participants
Updated 2026-04-03 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Acupuncture

At a glance

Recruiting sites
3 of 10 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
SF-36P
Measured over 6 months

Conditions

Persian Gulf Syndrome
Gulf War Syndrome
Multiple Chronic Illnesses
Occupational Diseases
War-Related Injuries
Wounds and Injuries

Explore related trials

Gulf war syndrome

NCT06716411

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 10 sites. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

    Boston, Massachusettsstudy coordinator listed

    Not yet recruiting

  • University of Utah

    Salt Lake City, Utahstudy coordinator listed

    Not yet recruiting

  • Various

    Los Angeles, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • Various

    Colorado Springs, Coloradostudy coordinator listed

    Not yet recruiting

  • Various

    Denver, Coloradostudy coordinator listed

    Not yet recruiting

  • Various

    Tampa, Floridastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • Various

    Dallas, Texasstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • Various

    Fairfax, Virginiastudy coordinator listed

    Not yet recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Who to contact

Lisa Conboy
[email protected]
617-718-1917
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

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:

Exclusion

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.

What this trial measures

  • SF-36P6 months

    Ten items addressing physical functioning which are part of a short-form health survey with 36 questions. Scores range between 0 and 100 with higher scores indicating better function.