Acupuncture and physical exercise for affective symptoms and health-related quality of life in polycystic ovary syndrome: secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundWomen with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have symptoms of depression and anxiety and impaired health related quality of life (HRQoL). Here we test the post-hoc hypothesis that acupuncture and exercise improve depression and anxiety symptoms and HRQoL in PCOS women.MethodsSeventy-two PCOS women were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of 1) acupuncture (n = 28); 2) exercise (n = 29); or 3) no intervention (control) (n = 15). Outcome measures included: change in Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S), Brief Scale for Anxiety (BSA-S), Swedish Short-Form 36 (SF-36), and PCOS Questionnaire (PCOSQ) scores from baseline to after 16-week intervention, and to 16-week post-intervention follow-up.ResultsA reduction in MADRS-S and BSA-S from baseline to 16-weeks post-intervention follow-up was observed for the acupuncture group. The SF-36 domains role physical, energy/vitality, general health perception and the mental component of summary scores improved in the acupuncture group after intervention and at follow-up. Within the exercise group the role physical decreased after treatment, while physical functioning and general health perception scores increased at follow-up. The emotion domain in the PCOSQ improved after 16-weeks of intervention within all three groups, and at follow-up in acupuncture and exercise groups. At follow-up, improvement in the infertility domain was observed within the exercise group.ConclusionThere was a modest improvement in depression and anxiety scores in women treated with acupuncture, and improved HRQoL scores were noted in both intervention groups. While not a primary focus of the trial, these data suggest continued investigation of mental health outcomes in women treated for PCOS.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00484705

Six-month effects of integrative treatment, therapeutic acupuncture and conventional treatment in alleviating psychological distress in primary care patients - follow up from an open, pragmatic randomized controlled trial

“…Our results are in line with earlier findings suggesting the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing anxiety [19-21] and depression [14,19,23,40]. We have previously shown that both integrative treatment combining therapeutic acupuncture with structured salutogenic dialogue or therapeutic acupuncture with non-directive dialogue reduce depression and anxiety significantly more than usual care in the short term [25]; however, to our knowledge only one randomized controlled study has evaluated longer term effects of acupuncture compared with usual care in alleviating psychological distress [15].…”

Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome after a Program of Resistance Exercise Training

“…39,40 Another study with women with PCOS who engaged in aerobic exercise also demonstrated improvements in the functional capacity score and in the perception of health status. 41 However, there is no data on the effect of RET on the QoL of women with PCOS. Although the present study with women with PCOS employed a period of physical training similar to that used by Stener-Victorin et al, 41 the RET program of the present study consisted of exercises supervised by physical educators that were performed three times a week with a personalized resistance load.…”

“…41 However, there is no data on the effect of RET on the QoL of women with PCOS. Although the present study with women with PCOS employed a period of physical training similar to that used by Stener-Victorin et al, 41 the RET program of the present study consisted of exercises supervised by physical educators that were performed three times a week with a personalized resistance load. Thus, the main result of the present study is that a RET program guided by specialized professionals can improve the functional capacity of patients with PCOS.…”

Acupuncture for Infertility in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: What Does It Add?

“…Thus, a woman with irregular cycles may use acupuncture to get more regular cycles and to improve PCOS-related symptoms, including health-related quality of life, mood, and insulin sensitivity, as there were few negative side effects of acupuncture. 10,11,[47][48][49][58][59][60][61] The recent RCT 18 has important clinical implications not only for women with PCOS with an active wish for pregnancy but also for those women with no active wish for pregnancy, as acupuncture induced ovulation to a higher degree than no treatment and also relieved other PCOS-related symptoms.…”