Pilot Study on Auricular Acupuncture (at the Ear Level) in Hospitalized Adults with Borderline Personality Disorder

Zusammenfassung der Studie

This study aims to evaluate an auricular acupuncture program (at the ear level), conducted by nurses, as a complement to usual care, in hospitalized adults in psychiatry for borderline personality disorder. The intervention is based on a standardized protocol from the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), also known as "acudetox". Acupuncture is performed by mental health nurses trained as NADA practitioners. In this pilot study, we will recruit 15 patients. The objective is to assess the feasibility of the program in terms of participation in the sessions, as well as its potential impact on several aspects of health, particularly: emotion regulation, relaxation, sleep quality, satisfaction with treatments, clinical severity and evolution, and the use of psychotropic medications. Participation in the study is voluntary and lasts 12 days. Individuals who agree to participate will be invited to: - attend 5 scheduled acupuncture sessions between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM, spaced 24 hours apart; - have a follow-up visit 2 days after the end of the program; - complete short questionnaires between sessions. All participants will receive acupuncture in addition to the usual care provided by the psychiatric hospital. This care includes medical consultations, medication treatments, as well as support from nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and social workers. The results of this pilot study will provide essential information on research procedures as well as any necessary adaptations before considering a larger-scale study. Each participant will receive a shopping voucher (20 CHF Migros) at the end of each visit, for a total maximum amount of 120 CHF.

(BASEC)

Untersuchte Intervention

The intervention protocol consists of a short and standardized auricular acupuncture program, administered during psychiatric hospitalization. Participants will receive 5 individual acupuncture sessions (45 minutes each) over a period of 9 days, scheduled at 24-hour intervals and conducted between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Each session will take place in the patient's hospital room and will be performed by a mental health nurse trained as a NADA practitioner.

After a brief explanation of the procedure, participants are comfortably positioned either semi-sitting or lying down. The nurse then prepares the auricular area according to standard hygiene procedures, and inserts sterile single-use needles bilaterally (in both ears) at the five points specified by the NADA protocol. The insertion of the needles lasts about 15 minutes and is performed with minimal verbal interactions, in accordance with the principles of the protocol. This is followed by a silent period of 30 minutes, during which the patient remains alone in a calm and uninterrupted environment. At the end of the session, the nurse removes the needles and conducts a clinical assessment of the skin condition (bleeding, bruising) and documents the procedure.

The intervention is not intended to be personalized or adapted at the individual level. All participants will receive the same standardized auricular acupuncture protocol as provided by NADA, applied uniformly during all sessions. Only minor adjustments may be made if necessary (e.g., slight adjustment of needle positioning in case of pain); these do not alter the therapeutic content and do not compromise the integrity of the intervention.

All operational adjustments will be documented as deviations from the protocol, specifying their nature and justification.

(BASEC)

Untersuchte Krankheit(en)

Borderline Personality Disorder

(BASEC)

Sponsor

Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV) - Bureau Promoteur de la recherche

(BASEC)

Name der bewilligenden Ethikkommission (bei multizentrischen Studien nur die Leitkommission)

Ethikkommission Waadt

(BASEC)

Datum der Bewilligung durch die Ethikkommission

12.05.2026

(BASEC)

Ergebnisse der Studie