<p>Efficacy of Electroacupuncture on Treating Depression-Related Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Trial</p>

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) on treating insomnia in patients with depression. Patients and Methods: In a patient-assessor-blind, randomized and sham controlled trial, 90 depression patients with insomnia were assigned into three different groups, receiving EA in the treatment group, superficial acupuncture at sham points in the control group A, or Streitberger non-insertion sham acupuncture in the control group B. Treatment was applied 3 times weekly for 8 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Secondary outcomes were sleep parameters including sleep efficiency (SE), total sleep time (TST) and numbers of sleep awakenings (SA) recorded in the actigraphy, as well as applying the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAMA). Assessments were performed at the baseline (week 0), week 4, week 8, and week 12. Linear mixed-effects models were used for analyses and all statistical tests were two-sided. Results: Patients in the EA group had more significant improvement in PSQI scores than those in the control groups over time (respectively p<0.001 and p=0.04 for treatment and time interaction). At 8-week posttreatment, the EA group reported a reduction of −6.64 points in PSQI scores compared with −2.23 points in the control group A (95% CI= −5.74 to −2.39) and −2.94 points in the control group B (95% CI= −5.73 to −2.47). Compared with the two control groups, significant between-group differences were seen in SE (both p<0.01) and TST (both p<0.01) at week 8; similar results can be found in HAMD-17, SDS, and HAMA scores as well. However, there were no between-group differences in SA (respectively p=0.24 and p=0.08) after 8-weeks of treatment. Conclusion: Electroacupuncture may improve the sleep quality of patients with depression.

Electroacupuncture versus Sham Acupuncture for Perimenopausal Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

“…A semi-standardized acupuncture protocol for PMI was developed by senior researchers (LXL and HGW) and practiced acupuncturists, according to textbook protocol, 30 literature reviews 31 , 32 and our previous study conclusions. 17 , 18 Participants in each group were offered 18 sessions of real or sham treatments over the course of 8 weeks (3 times per week for 4 weeks, twice per week for 2 weeks, once per week for 2 weeks). The details about interventions have been published in our protocol in 2019.…”

“… 36 The placebo needle has also been successfully used by our research team in a previous study. 17 , 18 The acupoints were the same as used for the acupuncture group, but without insertion. AG6805–2 Multi-Purpose Health Device was connected to the GV20 and GV29, without electrical pulse.…”

“…There have been several randomized controlled studies in the past that found that acupuncture is relatively effective for the treatment of primary insomnia 16 , 17 and depression-related insomnia. 18–20 Patients with PMI often show interest in acupuncture, 21 , 22 a safe and commonly used complementary therapy. Several trials have demonstrated the positive effects of acupuncture on insomnia in perimenopausal women.…”

“…Interventions A semi-standardized acupuncture protocol for PMI was developed by senior researchers (LXL and HGW) and practiced acupuncturists, according to textbook protocol, 30 literature reviews 31,32 and our previous study conclusions. 17,18…”

Efficacy of Acupuncture and Its Influence on the Emotional Network in Insomnia Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

“…A systematic evaluation showed that acupuncture can decrease the PSQI score, with a lower incidence of adverse events than that seen with anti-insomnia medicine [28,29] . It has also been demonstrated that acupuncture can improve sleep quality, relieve daytime sleepiness [30] , and decrease HAMA, HAMD-17, and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores [31,32] . This suggests that acupuncture can not only improve sleep quality but also relieve dysphoria.…”