Clinical study on electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B2) for interfering protracted withdrawal syndrome in the patient of heroin dependence / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study effects of electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B2) on protracted withdrawl syndrome of the patient of heroin dependence.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty cases of heroin dependence were randomly divided into 4 groups acupuncture group I (Jianji and Shenshu acupoints), acupuncture group II (acupoints at limbs), simulation group and control group. Protracted withdrawl syndrome scale, Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to observe changes of the scores before and after treatment of 4, 8, 10 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the treatment of 4, 8, 10 weeks, the cumulative scores for protracted withdrawl syndrome, HAMA and SDS in the acupuncture group I and II decreased significantly as compared with those in the control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture can significantly improve protracted withdrawl syndrome, alleviate anxiety and depression, and electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B2) being better than at the acupoints of the limbs.</p>