Efficacy of Acupuncture in Reducing Preoperative Anxiety: A Meta‐Analysis

Abstract

Background. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce preoperative anxiety in several previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In order to assess the preoperative anxiolytic efficacy of acupuncture therapy, this study conducted a meta-analysis of an array of appropriate studies. Methods. Four electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and CINAHL) were searched up to February 2014. In the meta-analysis data were included from RCT studies in which groups receiving preoperative acupuncture treatment were compared with control groups receiving a placebo for anxiety. Results. Fourteen publications (N = 1,034) were included. Six publications, using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S), reported that acupuncture interventions led to greater reductions in preoperative anxiety relative to sham acupuncture (mean difference = 5.63, P < .00001, 95% CI [4.14, 7.11]). Further eight publications, employing visual analogue scales (VAS), also indicated significant differences in preoperative anxiety amelioration between acupuncture and sham acupuncture (mean difference = 19.23, P < .00001, 95% CI [16.34, 22.12]). Conclusions. Acupuncture therapy aiming at reducing preoperative anxiety has a statistically significant effect relative to placebo or nontreatment conditions. Well-designed and rigorous studies that employ large sample sizes are necessary to corroborate this finding.

Acupuncture and PC6 stimulation for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer: a study protocol for a three-arm randomised pilot trial

“…An embedded acupuncture technique for preoperative anxiolysis suggested in a recent systematic review13 will be applied to the bilateral acupuncture points of Liver (LI4), Heart 7 (HT7), Stomach (ST36), Yin-Tang, ear Shen-Men and ear sympathetic using the superficial needle (Dongbang Press Needles, 0.18×1.3 mm, Dongbang) the day before surgery and will be removed at the first session of acupuncture on the day of surgery. These treatments will be applied only to the patients in the Acupuncture group.…”

A randomised controlled trial examining the effect of acupuncture at the EX-HN3 (Yintang) point on pre-operative anxiety levels in neurosurgical patients

“…Median APAISa level in the acupuncture group, but not in the control group: 10 (6-13 [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]) to 7 (4-10 [4-18]), p < 0.001 vs. 9 (6-13 [4-18]) to 8.5 (6-12 [4-18]), p = 0.872, respectively.…”

“…Pilot study data from neurosurgical patients in our institution found a mean (SD) pre-operative STAI-S6 score of 29.5 (14.7). Previous work has suggested that acupuncture may reduce anxiety levels by 25-37%, with a recent meta-analysis considering a 30% reduction in STAI-S6 score to be clinically significant [14]. In order to demonstrate a 30% reduction in STAI-S6 score with 90% power and 5% level of significance, we required 58 patients in each group.…”

A Randomized Controlled Comparison of Emotional Freedom Technique and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Adolescent Anxiety: A Pilot Study

“…56,57 The effectiveness of acupuncture for treating anxiety has been well documented. [58][59][60] Rather than using acupuncture needles, EFT relies on the manual stimulation of the acupoints. A recent meta-analysis indicated that interventions using acupoint stimulation had a moderate effect size (Hedge's g = -0.66 95% CI [-0.99, -0.33]) in reducing symptoms.…”