NCT02604706

Auricular Acupuncture in Substance Abuse: Effects on Anxiety, Sleep, Drug Use.

RCT of Auricular Acupuncture in Substance Abuse: Effects on Anxiety, Sleep, Drug Use and Use of Addiction Treatment Services. A Randomized Controlled Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 280 (actual)
• Sponsor: Örebro Läns Landsting · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Background. A common alternative treatment for substance abuse is ear acupuncture. The aim of the study was to evaluate the short and long-term effect of auricular acupuncture on anxiety, sleep, drug use and addiction treatment utilization in adults with substance abuse. Method. Adults with substance abuse and psychiatric comorbidity were randomly assigned to either of two variants of auricular acupuncture - The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol (NADA) or a local protocol (LP) - or relaxation training (controls). Primary outcomes were measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) with assessment before treatment and follow-ups after five weeks and three months. Secondary outcomes were drug use and addiction service utilization.

Conditions

• Substance Abuse
• Anxiety
• Sleep

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	NADA Acupuncture	NADA-acupuncture was delivered in three phases: (1) one treatment each day during the first of a total of five weeks; (2) three treatments each week during the following two weeks; (3) two treatments each week during the two remaining weeks. each session consisted of approximately 40 minutes with acupuncture at five ear points called Sympathetic, Shen Men, Kidney, Liver and Lung, which are believed to be the best points for substance abuse patients. Acupuncture was administered to both ears using stainless steel needles. NADA-acupuncture were given as a supplement to treatment as usual consisting of Motivational Interview, pharmacological treatment, and control of drug use with urine tests.
DEVICE	LP acupuncture	The LP-acupuncture was delivered in two phases: (1) three treatments each week during the two first weeks; (2) two treatments each week for two weeks. each session consisted of approximately 40 minutes with acupuncture at five ear points called Sympathetic, Shen Men, Kidney, Liver and Lung, which are believed to be the best points for substance abuse patients. Acupuncture was administered to both ears using stainless steel needles. LP-acupuncture were given as a supplement to treatment as usual consisting of Motivational Interview, pharmacological treatment, and control of drug use with urine tests.
BEHAVIORAL	Relaxation	Relaxation consisted of listening to soft music in a quiet room with dampened light and was delivered to match the amount and phases of the LP-acupuncture. Relaxation were given as a supplement to treatment as usual consisting of Motivational Interview, pharmacological treatment, and control of drug use with urine tests.

Timeline

• Start date: 2010-10-01
• Primary completion: 2014-06-01
• Completion: 2014-06-01
• First posted: 2015-11-13
• Last updated: 2015-11-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Sweden