Clinical study of TIP technique combined with acupuncture and oral administration of Chinese medicine on chronic insomnia with syndrome of heart-kidney imbalance

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of low resistance thought induction psychotherapy (TIP) technique combined with acupuncture and oral Chinese medicine in treating chronic insomnia elderly patients with syndrome of heart-kidney imbalance. Methods One hundred sixty-four chronic insomnia patients with syndrome of heart-kidney imbalance were randomly divided into four groups with 41 cases in each group. The control group was treated with family doctor contract, sleep health education and Tianwang-Buxin decoction as the basic treatment, the group A was treated with acupuncture and the basic treatment, the group B was treated with TIP technique and the basic treatment, the group C was treated with the combination of acupuncture and TIP on the basic treatment. After one month' treatment, scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were used to evaluate sleep quality, sleep efficiency, and the clinical efficacy. Results After treatment, scores of sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep time, sleep disturbance, daytime function of the group A, B, and C were significantly lower than those in the control group (F value were 44.322, 92.808, 107.131, 79.467, 98.638 respectively, all Ps<0.001), and the group C were significantly lower than those of the test group A and B (P<0.01). Scores of upset, dizziness, tinnitus, hot flashes, and night sweats, hand foot and heart fever, forgetfulness, sores on the tongue and dry stool of the group A, B, and C were significantly lower than those of the control group (F value were 103.32, 135.91, 93.35, 77.61, 57.514, 92.283, 126.097, 53.217, respectively, all Ps<0.001), and the group C were significantly lower than those of the test group A and B (P<0.01). The total clinical efficacy of TCM syndrome and insomnia in group A,B and C was significantly higher than that in the control group (χ2=16.169, P<0.01), and the group C was significantly higher than the group A and B (χ2=8.504, P<0.01). The total clinical efficacy of sleep efficiency in group A, B and C was significantly higher than that in the control group (χ2=14.078, P<0.01), and the group C was significantly higher than the group A and B (χ2=8.856, P<0.01). Conclusions TIP technique combined with acupuncture and oral Chinese medicine can improve sleep quality of chronic insomnia elderly patients with syndrome of heart-kidney imbalance. Key words: Insomnia; Low resistance thought induction psychotherapy; Acupuncture therapy; Tianwang-Buxin decoction; Syndrome of disharmony between heart and kidney