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Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for post‐traumatic stress disorder: Assessor‐blinded, randomized controlled study
Author(s) -
Feng Bin,
Zhang Ying,
Luo LiYuan,
Wu JianYong,
Yang SenJun,
Zhang Ning,
Tan QingRong,
Wang HuaNing,
Ge Nan,
Ning Fang,
Zheng ZiLi,
Zhu RuiMing,
Qian MinCai,
Chen ZhiYu,
Zhang ZhangJin
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.12810
Subject(s) - sertraline , randomized controlled trial , depression (economics) , adverse effect , rating scale , medicine , antidepressant , psychology , psychiatry , physical therapy , anesthesia , anxiety , developmental psychology , macroeconomics , economics
Aim Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) has the potential to alleviate post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether adding TEAS to sertraline or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) could improve the anti‐PTSD efficacy. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, 240 PTSD patients (60 in each group) were assigned to receive simulated TEAS combined with sertraline (group A) or with CBT (group B), active TEAS combined with CBT (group C), or active TEAS combined with CBT plus sertraline (group D) for 12 weeks. The outcomes were measured using the Clinician‐Administered PTSD Scale, PTSD Check List‐Civilian Version, and 17‐item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Results While PTSD symptoms reduced over time in all patients, groups C and D had markedly greater improvement in both PTSD and depressive measures than groups A and B in all post‐baseline measurement points, with moderate to very large effect sizes of 0.484–2.244. Groups C and D also had a significantly higher rate than groups A and B on clinical response (85.0% and 95.0% vs 63.3% and 60.0%, P < 0.001) and on remission (15.0% and 25.0% vs 3.3% and 1.7%, P < 0.001). The incidence of adverse events was similar between groups A and D and between groups B and C. Conclusions Additional TEAS augments the anti‐PTSD and antidepressant efficacy of antidepressants or CBT, without increasing the incidence of adverse effects. TEAS could serve as an effective intervention for PTSD and comorbid depression. This trial was registered with www.chictr.org (no.: ChiCTR1800017255).