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- Title
Noneffectiveness of electroacupuncture for comorbid generalized anxiety disorder and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Authors
Mak, Arthur Dun‐Ping; Chung, Vincent Chi Ho; Yuen, Suet Ying; Tse, Yee Kit; Wong, Samuel Yeung Shan; Ju, Yanli; Hung, Sheung Sheung; Leung, Ka Chun; You, Joyce Hoi Sze; Lui, Rashid; Wong, Sunny Hei; Leung, Owen Ngo Wang; Lam, Linda Chiu Wa; Lee, Sing; Wu, Justin Che Yuen
- Abstract
Background and Aim: Comorbid generalized anxiety disorder and irritable bowel syndrome are common and therapeutically challenging. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of electroacupuncture in relieving anxiety and bowel symptoms in Chinese adults with this form of comorbidity. Methods: In a single‐blind randomized sham‐controlled trial, subjects with comorbid generalized anxiety disorder and irritable bowel syndrome were randomly assigned to receive 10 weekly sessions of electroacupuncture or sham electroacupuncture. Patients were assessed at baseline, immediately after intervention and at 6‐week follow‐up. Primary outcome was anxiety (7‐item Patient Health Questionnaire section for anxiety). Secondary outcomes included bowel symptoms (bowel symptoms questionnaire), depressive symptoms (9‐item Patient Health Questionnaire), somatic symptoms (15‐item Patient Health Questionnaire), and health‐related quality of life (EuroQol‐5 Dimensions). Results: Eighty subjects, 40 in each arm, were randomized. All but two in the sham group completed 10 weekly sessions. There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients experiencing significant (≥ 50%) reduction of anxiety symptoms between the two groups immediately after intervention (32.4% vs 21.6%, P = 0.06) and at 6‐week follow‐up (25.7% in electroacupuncture vs 27% in sham, P = 0.65). Anxiety, depressive symptom, and bowel symptom severity did not differ significantly between electroacupuncture and sham groups. Conclusions: Findings failed to support the effectiveness of electroacupuncture for comorbid generalized anxiety disorder and irritable bowel syndrome. Further studies are needed to identify effective acupuncture treatment protocols for such comorbidity.
- Subjects
IRRITABLE colon; ELECTROACUPUNCTURE; GENERALIZED anxiety disorder; ANXIETY disorders; QUALITY of life; BLIND experiment
- Publication
Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2019, Vol 34, Issue 10, p1736
- ISSN
0815-9319
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/jgh.14667