Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation as an adjunct therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized controlled study

Abstract

Background: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is thought to have potential to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether adding TEAS to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and clomipramine would improve the efficacy of these conventional treatments in OCD.Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 360 OCD patients were assigned to receive TEAS combined with CBT plus clomipramine (Group A, n = 120), TEAS combined with CBT plus placebo (Group B, n = 120), and simulated (placebo) TEAS combined with CBT plus clomipramine (Group C, n = 120) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS).Results: OCD symptoms in all patients reduced over time, however Groups A and B had a significantly greater reduction in Y-BOCS total score and the subscale for obsession and compulsion between week 2 and week 12 compared to Group C. Groups A and B had similar scores on these measures. Both groups had significantly higher rates of clinical response than Group C (88.3% and 81.7% vs. 67.5%, respectively, p < 0.001); and higher rates of remission (30.0% and 22.5% vs. 9.2%, respectively, p < 0.001).Group B experienced fewer adverse events than the other two groups.Conclusions: TEAS enhances the efficacy of conventional OCD interventions and avoids the adverse effects associated with conventional pharmacological treatment. It can be considered as an effective adjunct intervention for OCD.

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for post‐traumatic stress disorder: Assessor‐blinded, randomized controlled study

“…This indicates that additional TEAS augments the efficacy of antidepressants or CBT in improving PTSD. This is consistent with our previous studies, showing that additional TEAS enhanced the effectiveness of antidepressants and CBT in patients with OCD and earthquake‐related PTSD . The present participants represent a PTSD subpopulation with diverse etiological profile because they had experienced various traumatic events.…”

“…Simulated TEAS was conducted as previously reported . Briefly, adhesive electrode pads were placed at sites 1 cm radial to Nei‐Guan (PC6) and the stimulation intensity was adjusted to the minimum sensory threshold for 30 s and then ramped off over the next 15 s so that it was active for a total of 45 s. This transient stimulation has been well validated and found to better maintain blinding compared with standard placebo‐TENS methods, in which no current was actually delivered to the electrodes …”

“…While acupuncture has been demonstrated to have potential benefits in treating PTSD and depressive disorders, as a non‐invasive acupuncture therapy, transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) also has been widely used in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, including postoperative anxiety, depression, autism, smoking cessation, and drug dependence . The effectiveness of TEAS has been demonstrated in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and earthquake‐related PTSD . Compared with invasive acupuncture, in which needles are inserted into acupoints on the body, TEAS has a higher acceptability to patients and clinicians because it is practiced in a non‐invasive, safer, and time‐saving manner, without causing pain and needle phobia .…”

Akupunktur in der Psychiatrie – Chancen und Grenzen

“…In der Behandlung von Traumafolgestörungen wurde die Wirkung von Akupunktur in Akupunktur in der Psychiatrie Praxis zkm te auch hier in einer Studie eine Wirkverstärkung konventioneller Therapiemethoden bei Abnahme von Nebenwirkungen durch Akupunktur gefunden werden [104].…”

Combination therapy for rapid treatment of severe obsessive–compulsive disorder: a case report

“…We previously performed a randomized controlled trial of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) that showed good efficacy for OCD; in the present study, we improved this treatment to obtain a more rapid effect. 6…”