Determining the efficacy of auricular acupuncture for reducing anxiety in patients withdrawing from psychoactive drugs

Abstract

Auricular acupuncture (AA) is a widely accepted treatment option for substance abuse that is used in more than 700 treatment centers worldwide. Despite claims of perceived clinical benefits by patients and treatment staff, research efforts have failed to substantiate purported benefits, and the mechanism(s) by which AA serves in the treatment of addiction remain inconclusive. Numerous studies have shown AA to be an effective treatment for perioperative anxiety. In this study, we hypothesize that AA reduces the anxiety associated with withdrawal from psychoactive drugs. The study used a randomized, controlled design and included a sample of 101 patients recruited from an addiction treatment service. Subjects were assigned to one of three treatment groups (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association [NADA] AA, AA at sham points, or treatment setting control) and were instructed to attend treatment sessions for 3 days. The primary outcome measure state anxiety was assessed using a pretest–posttest treatment design. The study hypothesis was not confirmed. The NADA protocol was not more effective than sham or treatment setting control in reducing anxiety. The widespread acceptance of AA in the treatment of addiction remains controversial.