Effects of Acupuncture and Intradermal Acupuncture on Insomnia

A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate Effectiveness of Acupuncture on Insomnia

The aim of this clinical study is to observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and intradermal acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia

Participants were randomized into the acupuncture group and control group. Both groups were treated 3 times in a week and assessed before and after the treatment.

Hypothesis :

1. Acupuncture group will produce superior effect in the treatment of insomnia compared with control group.
2. Acupuncture group will produce superior improvement in anxiety, depression, quality of life, sleep log, recognition, attention, and memory.

The acupuncture group is received acupuncture and intradermal acupuncture therapy at 5 acupoints on wrist and ankle. The control group is received same treatment at 5 sham points approximately 1cm lateral to the acupoints.

Except for the location of acupuncture points, all details of treatment are same between acupuncture group and control group. A certified practitioner treat both groups 3 times in a week. The acupuncture inserted into the skin for 20 minutes and the intradermal acupuncture inserted and fixed on the same points for 48~72 hours.

Severity of insomnia, anxiety, depression, quality of life, recognition, attention, and memory are assessed at the baseline, after the last treatment and at a week after the end of last treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female between the age of 18years and 65 years.
• Diagnosed as having Insomnia using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI score>5).
• Have no problems with communication (for example, reading, writing, listening, speaking).
• Provided written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Regular medication, Herbal medication or health functional food for treating insomnia
• Presence of major neuropsychiatric disorder (for example, mental retardation, psychosis and severe mood disorder)
• Presence of inflammatory skin disease on the acupuncture site
• Presence of bleeding disorders or takes anticoagulant
• Presence of severe physical diseases that may preclude the safe use of acupuncture
• Enrolled in another clinical study in the past 1 month
• Pregnancy or breast feeding