Auricular Acupuncture and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia: A Randomised Controlled Study.

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Sleep Science
• Behavioral Medicine

Background:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i) is the leading non-pharmacological treatment for insomnia disorder.
• Auricular Acupuncture (AA) is a complementary therapy with potential benefits for insomnia symptoms.
• Individual suitability for CBT-i varies, necessitating exploration of alternative treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the treatment effects of Auricular Acupuncture (AA) against CBT-i for insomnia disorder.
• To evaluate the impact of AA and CBT-i on insomnia severity, anxiety, and depression symptoms.
• To assess the maintenance of treatment effects at a 6-month follow-up.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 59 participants with insomnia disorder.
• Participants were assigned to group treatment with either AA or CBT-i.
• Insomnia severity, sleep beliefs, daytime sleepiness, anxiety, and depression were measured using validated questionnaires at baseline, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i) showed significant between-group improvements in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores post-treatment and at 6-month follow-up compared to AA.
• CBT-i also led to greater reductions in Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep (DBAS-16) scores.
• Both AA and CBT-i groups experienced significant within-group improvements in ISI scores, which were sustained at 6 months.

Conclusions:

• Auricular Acupuncture (AA), as administered in this study, is not as effective as CBT-i for treating insomnia disorder as a standalone therapy.
• CBT-i remains a highly effective treatment for insomnia, addressing both symptom severity and underlying beliefs about sleep.
• Further research may explore AA as an adjunctive therapy rather than a primary treatment for insomnia.