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Acupuncture Treatment in a Mouse Model of Chronic Hypoxia-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction

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Acupuncture for alcohol dependence: a systematic review.

Seung-Hun Cho¹, Wei-Wan Whang

¹Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hospital of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. chosh@khu.ac.kr

Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research

|May 6, 2009

Summary

This systematic review found limited evidence on acupuncture for alcohol dependence due to poor study quality. More rigorous trials are needed to determine its effectiveness in treating alcohol use disorders.

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Area of Science:

Integrative Medicine
Addiction Psychiatry
Clinical Research Methodology

Background:

Acupuncture has been utilized for substance use disorders for three decades.
A comprehensive systematic review on acupuncture for alcohol dependence was lacking.
This study systematically reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for alcohol dependence.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically assess the efficacy of various acupuncture methods for alcohol dependence.
To evaluate the quality of existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in this field.

Main Methods:

A systematic search of 19 electronic databases was conducted up to June 2008.
Included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with no language restrictions.
Methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane Handbook criteria.

Main Results:

Eleven trials involving 1,110 participants were reviewed; only two met all quality criteria.
Acupuncture showed no significant difference compared to sham treatments for alcohol craving or completion rates.
Acupuncture combined with conventional therapy showed significant reductions in some trials, but results were equivocal.

Conclusions:

The current evidence is inconclusive due to poor methodological quality and limited trials.
Further well-designed, rigorous, and large-scale clinical trials are essential.
Definitive conclusions regarding acupuncture's efficacy for alcohol dependence cannot be drawn at this time.