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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Sleep Disorders
Volume 16 - 2025 |
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1501321
This article is part of the Research Topic Chronic insomnia: Treatment and management View all 13 articles
The dose-effect relationship between acupuncture and its effect on primary insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Provisionally accepted
Wenzhong Wu 1*
Xiaoni Zhang 2* Yue Wang 2* Chengyong Liu 1* Shan Qin 1* Liyu Lin 2* Can Dong 2* Zhaoming Chen 2*- 1 Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- 2 Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
The benefits of acupuncture on primary insomnia (PI) have been well established in previous studies. However, different acupuncture dosages may lead to controversy over efficacy. Therefore, this study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relationship between the dose and efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of PI.Methods: Seven databases were searched from inception until 30th May 2024. The included RCTs with acupuncture for PI on the PSQI score were separated into three categories according to the therapeutic dose of acupuncture (frequency, session, course): Low dosage, medium dosage, and high dosage. Correlation between dose and effect of treatment was analyzed. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan V.5.4 and Stata 16.0 software. substantial heterogeneity among studies.A dose-effect relationship was found between acupuncture dose and PSQI scores. Although sham acupuncture needling at the same points as those in acupuncture may not be a true placebo control, this was utilized in a minority of studies. Collectively, data suggest at least 3 sessions per week for 3-4 weeks and the total of at least 12 acupuncture sessions would be the optimal clinical response.
Keywords: Acupuncture, dose-effect, Primary insomnia, Systematic review, metaanalysis
Received: 24 Sep 2024; Accepted: 10 Jan 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Wu, Zhang, Wang, Liu, Qin, Lin, Dong and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Wenzhong Wu, Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
Xiaoni Zhang, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
Yue Wang, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
Chengyong Liu, Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
Shan Qin, Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
Liyu Lin, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
Can Dong, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
Zhaoming Chen, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
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