Efficacy of Electroacupuncture Combined with Auricular Point Pressing in Improving Mental Well-Being among Individuals with Heroin Use Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial and Pilot Study. (27th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Kai-Chiang; Wei, Han-Ting; Chang, Shang-Chih; Hsu, Chung-Hua
• Other Names: Wang Shu-Ming Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine. Volume 2020(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09-27
• Subjects: Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.1155/2020/3748056
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-427X

Abstract

Abstract : Objective . To evaluate the clinical efficacy of combining electroacupuncture with auricular point pressing in improving quality of life of individuals with heroin use disorder undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. Design . A randomized controlled crossover trial. Subjects . 50 participants were recruited from Taipei City Hospital, Linsen Chinese Medicine and Kunming branches, and randomly allocated to treatment groups. Method . The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used. Group A received electroacupuncture at the Hegu (LI4) and Zusanli (ST36) and auricular point pressing on Ear Shenmen, and Group B received only auricular point pressing on Ear Shenmen biweekly for 4 weeks. After a 1-week washout period, crossover of the groups was performed. Results . The SF-36 mental component scores of the combined treatment group improved relative to the single treatment group (11.09 vs. 10.33, p = 0.023 ). Methadone dosage was reduced in both groups (combined therapy group: 8.58 ± 4.17/7.76 ± 4.11 (baseline/posttreatment) vs. single therapy group: 8.36 ± 4.20/8.30 ± .28, p = 0.001 ). Conclusion . Combined therapy of high-frequency electroacupuncture with auricular point pressing had better efficacy in enhancing quality of life, especially for mental well-being, and in gradually reducing methadone dosage.