Acupuncture for anxiety in lactating mothers with preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial

Haddad-Rodrigues, M.

Spano Nakano, A. M.

Stefanello, J.

Campos Pereira, S. ilveira RC.

Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

2013

2013

RCT

Mental Disorders

Anxiety

RCT

Acu Versus Sham

Auricular Acupuncture

TCM Acupuncture Style

Fixed Acupuncture Protocol

Restricted Modalities, Acupuncture Only

Sham Control

Non Penetrating Sham, Mechanical

Verum Acupoint Control

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture versus placebo acupuncture on anxiety in lactating mothers with preterm infants. A parallel, randomized, patient-assessor blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary school hospital in Londrina, Brazil, between 2011 and 2012. Mothers (n = 29) with very low birth weight infants born at this institution were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: acupuncture, AG (n = 14), or placebo acupuncture, PG (n = 15). Treatment sessions occurred once a week, using 5 Chinese auricular points unilaterally. The primary outcome measure was STAI-State scores, and secondary outcome measure was salivary cortisol levels. Both measures were collected before and after treatment and submitted to a blind assessor. Before-after treatment mean difference in STAI-State scores was observed in both groups (AG = 8.71 and PG = 8.20), not statistically significant (P = 0.888), although within group analysis was significant for both groups (P < 0.005). Salivary cortisol levels did not change after treatment in both groups (P = 0.480). There was no correlation between STAI and salivary cortisol results. At infant's hospital discharge, 76% subjects were breastfeeding exclusively. There was no difference between real and placebo acupuncture for anxiety in mothers with preterm infants.

10.1155/2013/169184

Mental Disorders

1/WK

29

6 Weeks