Auricular acupuncture in prison psychiatric units: a pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Integrative medicine
• Psychiatric care
• Forensic psychology

Background:

• Prison psychiatric units face challenges in providing effective psychosocial treatments.
• Non-verbal therapies may offer unique benefits for incarcerated populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate auricular acupuncture as a treatment for inmates in prison psychiatric units.
• To assess the impact of auricular acupuncture on inmate well-being and medication needs.

Main Methods:

• Group auricular acupuncture was administered three times weekly for 9 months to inmates in a psychiatric unit and a support unit.
• A separate prison psychiatric unit served as a control group.

Main Results:

• Inmates receiving at least 25 auricular acupuncture treatments were prescribed fewer psycholeptic drugs compared to controls.
• Treated inmates in the psychiatric unit reported increased perceived autonomy, inner harmony, calm, and clarity.
• Higher cortisol levels were observed in the support unit compared to other groups.

Conclusions:

• Auricular acupuncture is a suitable non-verbal treatment for prison psychiatric settings.
• This therapy can facilitate therapeutic contact and supplement existing psychosocial interventions.