Efficiency of Acupuncture and Transcutaneous Electroneurostimulation in Treatment of Patients with Anxiety Disorders

Abstract

Introduction: The effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the management of Anxiety disorders (AD) compared with standard pharmacotherapy and acupuncture was demonstrated in rare clinical research studies. Objective: To study the dynamics of anxiety disorders with the use of a direct TENS and acupuncture. Materials and Methods: 59 patients with AD were examined. 12 patients underwent only pharmacotherapy. 12 patients underwent low-frequency high-amplitude TENS (LH TENS) of the right median nerve. 11 patients have been treated by highfrequency low-amplitude (HL TENS) of the right median nerve. 12 patients received a course of LH TENS of the right tibial nerve. 12 patients underwent course of acupuncture. Results: GAD-7 shows that the decrease in the severity of anxiety disorders was most of all after acupuncture and averaged 47.9%, in second place - after LH TENS of the median nerve and averaged 44±3%, in third place - after LH TENS of the tibial nerve and averaged 30.2±5 %, in fourth place after HL TENS of the median nerve (14±6%) and least of all after only use of pharmacotherapy (17.2±5%). There was a significant improvement in the quality of life identified using SF-36 by 37% in patients after acupuncture, by 35% in patients after LH TENS of the median nerve, by 20% in patients after LH TENS of the tibial nerve, by 11% in patients after HL TENS of the median nerve and by 13% after pharmacotherapy. Conclusion: Acupuncture proved to be more effective than LH TENS of the median nerve in treating AD. At the same time, improving the quality of life has the same results in the two methods of treatment. Direct LH TENS is more effective than direct HL TENS in the treatment of patients with anxiety disorders. Stimulation of the median nerve was found to be more effective than stimulation of the tibial nerve by 66% in decreasing anxiety disorders and by 75% in improving quality of life.