Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation as an adjunct therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health condition.
• Current treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy, but efficacy can be limited.
• Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is explored as a novel therapeutic approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of TEAS as an add-on therapy for OCD.
• To compare TEAS combined with CBT and clomipramine against conventional treatments.
• To assess the impact of TEAS on symptom reduction and clinical response rates.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 360 OCD patients.
• Three groups: TEAS + CBT + clomipramine, TEAS + CBT + placebo, and simulated TEAS + CBT + clomipramine.
• Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) used for primary outcome measurement over 12 weeks.

Main Results:

• All groups showed symptom reduction, but TEAS groups (A and B) had significantly greater Y-BOCS score decreases.
• Clinical response and remission rates were significantly higher in TEAS groups compared to the placebo TEAS group.
• TEAS combined with CBT and placebo (Group B) reported fewer adverse events.

Conclusions:

• TEAS significantly enhances the effectiveness of conventional OCD treatments.
• TEAS offers a viable adjunct intervention for OCD, potentially reducing reliance on pharmacological agents.
• TEAS demonstrates a favorable safety profile, with fewer adverse events observed.