Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025
04:34
Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness and Safety of Shugan Jieyu Capsules for the Treatment of Insomnia
Published on: February 17, 2023
1.2K
Is Sham Acupuncture Equally Effective for Primary Insomnia? A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis
Yuting Wang1, Minmin Wu2, Jiongliang Zhang1
1Second Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China.
Nature and Science of Sleep
|September 5, 2025
Summary
Acupuncture therapy (AT) significantly improves subjective sleep quality in adults with primary insomnia (PI) compared to sham acupuncture. Non-invasive sham acupuncture (NISA) is recommended as a control for future trials.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Sleep Science
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Primary insomnia (PI) is a prevalent sleep disorder affecting adult quality of life.
- Acupuncture therapy (AT) is a potential treatment for PI, but its efficacy compared to sham controls requires rigorous evaluation.
- Understanding the impact of different sham acupuncture techniques is crucial for designing robust clinical trials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of acupuncture therapy (AT) versus sham acupuncture in treating adult primary insomnia (PI).
- To analyze the influence of various sham acupuncture types (non-invasive sham acupuncture - NISA, superficial acupuncture - SA) on treatment outcomes.
- To provide evidence-based recommendations for control group selection in PI acupuncture research.
Main Methods:
- Bayesian network meta-analysis of 33 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 3004 participants.
- Literature search across seven databases up to April 23, 2025.
- Statistical analysis using R (version 4.4.1) and Stata (version 15.1).
Main Results:
- Acupuncture therapy (AT) significantly improved subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - PSQI) compared to superficial acupuncture (SA) and non-invasive sham acupuncture (NISA) at treatment endpoint and 4 weeks.
- AT demonstrated a clinically meaningful improvement in PSQI scores, exceeding the minimum clinically important difference (MCID).
- No significant differences were observed between AT, NISA, and SA for objective sleep parameters; differences among SA, NISA, and non-acupuncture therapy (NAT) were not significant.
Conclusions:
- Acupuncture therapy (AT) is effective in enhancing subjective sleep quality for primary insomnia (PI) patients.
- Non-invasive sham acupuncture (NISA) is recommended as the appropriate sham control for future RCTs investigating acupuncture for PI.
- Future research should prioritize objective sleep measures and incorporate international, multicenter trials to enhance generalizability.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Management of Insomnia
319
The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
319
01:17Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
236
Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
236
02:07Blind Procedures
12.1K
Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which...
12.1K
01:23Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview
629
Sedatives are drugs that alleviate anxiety, while hypnotics induce sleep. Both classes of medication suppress neuronal activity, leading to a calming effect for sedatives and facilitating sleep for hypnotics.
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
629
01:27Insomnia
123
Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early without being able to return to sleep. People with insomnia often experience these disruptions at least three nights a week for at least one month. Chronic insomnia, which lasts for at least three months, can lead to increased anxiety, which in turn can worsen sleep difficulties, creating a cycle of sleeplessness and stress.
Multiple factors contribute...
Multiple factors contribute...
123
01:14CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines
462
CNS depressants include drugs from the category of barbiturates and benzodiazepines. They are valuable medications for managing anxiety disorders and insomnia. Barbiturates, once used to induce and maintain sleep, have been replaced mainly by benzodiazepines due to barbiturate's toxicity, tolerance, and overdose risks. They interact with GABAA receptors, leading to sedation at low doses and potentially coma and death at higher doses. Phenobarbital, a long-acting barbiturate, possesses...
462