Therapeutic Observation of Scalp Cluster Needling plus Acupuncture at Conception Vessel Points for Generalized Anxiety Disorder / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of scalp cluster needling plus acupuncture at Conception Vessel points in treating generalized anxiety disorder.Method Sixty eligible subjects were divided into a treatment group and a control group by the random number table, 30 cases each. The treatment group was intervened by scalp cluster needling plus acupuncture at Conception Vessel points including Tiantu (CV22), Danzhong (CV17), Zhongwan (CV12) and Xiawan (CV10); in the control group, Shenmen (HT7), Daling (PC7), Neiguan (PC6), Qimen (LR14), Xinshu (BL15), Hegu (LI4) and Taichong (LR3) were selected. The treatments were given once a day, 6 sessions followed by 1-day interval as a treatment course, for successive 8 courses in total. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores of the two groups were compared before and after the treatment and in the follow-up study; the clinical efficacies were also compared.Result The treatment protocols in the two groups were both effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder, while the markedly effective rate was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). The HAMA scores after treatment and in the 1-month follow-up study were significantly different from the score before the treatment in both groups (P<0.01). There were significant differences in comparing the HAMA score between the two groups respectively after treatment and in the 1-month follow-up study (P<0.05). Conclusion Scalp cluster needling plus acupuncture at Conception Vessel points shows significant advantage in treating generalized anxiety disorder compared to the ordinary acupuncture method.