[Acupuncture at acupoints along the meridians for primary insomnia: a multi-center randomized controlled trial]

To compare the clinical effect differences among different acupoint selection methods for primary insomnia.

A total of 333 patients with primary insomnia were recruited from 3 study centers and randomly divided into a group A (111 cases, 7 cases dropped off), a group B (111 cases, 5 cases dropped off) and a group C (111 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the group A were treated with acupuncture at Shenmen (HT 7) and Baihui (GV 20), the patients in the group B were treated with acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Baihui (GV 20), and the patients in the group C were treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint and Baihui (GV 20). All the treatment was given once a day, 30 min each time; 5 treatments were taken as a course and 5 courses of treatment were given. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Athens insomnia scale (AIS) scores were evaluated before and after treatment as well as 4 weeks after treatment. The encephalofluctuograph technology (ET) was observed before and after treatment.

Compared before treatment, the PSQI scores after treatment and at follow-up were significantly decreased in three groups (P<0.01), and the decrease in the group A and the group B was greater than that in the group C (P<0.01). Compared before treatment, the AIS scores after treatment and at follow-up was significantly decreased in three groups (P<0.01), and the decrease in the group A was greater than that in the group C (P<0.05). The interclass and between-groups ET before and after treatment had no significant difference (P>0.05).

The acupuncture at acupoints along the meridians could improve the sleep quality in patients with primary insomnia, and the therapeutic effect of acupoint along the meridians is better than that of non-acupoint.