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Acupuncture for schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
1Division of Standard Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 305-811, South Korea. drmslee@gmail.com
International Journal of Clinical Practice
|October 17, 2009
Summary
Acupuncture shows limited effectiveness for schizophrenia symptoms, but more high-quality international trials are needed. Current evidence is insufficient for firm conclusions on acupuncture
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
Background:
- Acupuncture is a popular complementary/alternative medicine.
- It is sometimes employed as a treatment for schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review clinical evidence for acupuncture in treating schizophrenia.
- Assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for schizophrenia symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Searched 20 databases (inception–May 2009) for randomized clinical trials (RCTs).
- Included RCTs of acupuncture, electroacupuncture, or moxibustion for schizophrenia patients.
- No language restrictions were applied.
Main Results:
- Thirteen RCTs from China met inclusion criteria; methodological quality was generally poor.
- Some studies suggested benefits for electroacupuncture and laser acupuncture in reducing hallucinations and improving response rates.
- Acupuncture, with or without drugs, showed some positive effects on response rates compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Limited evidence suggests acupuncture may help treat schizophrenia symptoms.
- The small number and low quality of RCTs prevent firm conclusions.
- Further international studies are required to validate these findings.