Abstract
BackgroundThe number of students using neuro enhancement to improve their performance and to prevent test anxiety is increasing. The acupuncture point Heart 7 (HT7) has been described as being prominent in reducing states of anxiety.MethodsWe conducted a randomized placebo-controlled, two-armed pilot trial to investigate the efficacy of a single-point acupuncture treatment at bilateral HT7 compared to sham laser acupuncture on test anxiety. Test anxiety was induced applying the standardised protocol of the Trier Social Stress Test. Outcome measures included saliva samples analysed for cortisol and amylase, anxiety questionnaires and heart rate variability.ResultsTwenty-five male subjects (age 28 ± 5 years) were allocated to either verum acupuncture (n = 12) or sham laser acupuncture (n = 13). Cortisol peaked 20 min after the stress test (2-fold, 18.11 ± 2 nmol/l) and amylase 10 min after (2-fold, 259 ± 49 U/ml) with no difference between groups. There were no differences between groups regarding either anxiety questionnaires or physiological parameters. Compared to reference data (3-fold increase in cortisol), increase in stress hormones and heart rate seemed somewhat reduced.ConclusionsAcupuncture may be a possible approach for the treatment of anxiety. Due to the lack of a no control treatment group, we cannot determine the magnitude of possible specific needle effects at HT7 to promote specific effects in the neuroendocrine system. Finally this study only examines the efficacy of a single time treatment.
Highlights
The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research reports that 13% of all first-year undergraduate students seek counselling services for test anxiety [1]
We conducted a randomized placebo-controlled, two-armed pilot trial to investigate the efficacy of a single-point acupuncture treatment at bilateral Heart 7 (HT7) compared to sham laser acupuncture on test anxiety
Acupuncture may be a possible approach for the treatment of anxiety
Summary
The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research reports that 13% of all first-year undergraduate students seek counselling services for test anxiety [1]. Test anxiety seems to be more prevalent in students who dropped their first study major and started another In this group, 17% sought counselling services. There is an affective component, which occurs as an unpleasurable, nervous feeling of affective excitement, a cognitive component, which includes concern for impending failure and its possible consequences, a physiological component, for example an increased heart rate, sweating or nausea, and a motivational component, which involves escape and avoidance tendencies [2] In this regard, current investigations distinguish between situationally experienced test anxiety, or so-called "state test anxiety," and habitual personality-specific test anxiety, which is referred to as "trait test anxiety" [3]. The acupuncture point Heart 7 (HT7) has been described as being prominent in reducing states of anxiety
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