Search
Add Listing

List Your Practice Today! Call (877) 630-3600

Acupuncture Helps Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Study Says

Home Learning Center News and Studies
By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM

Acupuncture may help people with posttraumatic stress disorder according to a recent clinical trial. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.

Dr. Michael Hollifield, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, conducted the study of acupuncture and PTSD at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.  The study involved 73 men and women with PTSD, including a handful of combat veterans, and was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The researchers analyzed depression, anxiety, and impairment. 

The participants were assigned to receive either an empirically developed acupuncture treatment or group cognitive-behavioral therapy over 12 weeks, or were assigned to a wait-list as part of the control group. The people in the control group were offered treatment or referral for treatment at the end of their participation.

The researchers found that acupuncture provided treatment effects similar to group cognitive-behavioral therapy; both interventions were superior to the control group. Additionally, treatment effects of both the acupuncture and the group therapy were maintained for 3 months after the end of treatment.

"Acupuncture in this preliminary pilot study looked to be very helpful for PTSD and perhaps in some ways as helpful as the standard treatment of cognitive behavioral therapy," says Hollifield, "Acupuncture proved helpful enough to where some participants said they were significantly helped and/or did not have as much of their post-traumatic stress symptoms anymore."

Source:
Acupuncture for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.
Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease. 195(6):504-513, June 2007

Search In Learning Center :

About News and Studies

Meta Analysis Finds Acupuncture Effective for Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptom Relief Study Finds Honey a Valuable Medicinal Substance Study Recommends Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia Pain Study Finds Acupuncture Effective for Post-Operative Nausea Study Finds Peppermint Oil Treats Digestive Disorders and Aids Digestion Study Finds Acupuncture Enhances Performance and Reduces Pain in Runners with Knee Problems Study Finds Recreational Runners Performance Not Significantly Impacted by Vegan Diet Study Finds Acupuncture Relieves Persistant Hiccups Study Finds Acu-TENS Improves COPD Symptoms Effectiveness of Thread Embedding Therapy (TET) for Facial Wrinkle Reduction Meta Analysis Finds Acupuncture Reduces Itchiness Meta Analysis Finds Acupuncture Beneficial for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptom Relief Meta Study Confirms Acupuncture Effective for Chronic Pain Study Finds Moxibustion Enhances Weight Loss Study Finds Electro-Acupuncture and Aerobic Exercise Improves Cardiovascular Function Study Finds Acupuncture Benefits Quality of Life for Depression Sufferers Meta Study Finds Acupuncture Provides Relief from Anxiety Study Shows Acupuncture Provides Allergic Rhinitis Symptom Relief Acupuncture Provides Immediate Relief from Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Study Shows Acupuncture is Effective for Treating Parkinsons Disease Study Shows How the Brain Responds to Acupuncture Study Finds Contralateral Needle Technique More Effective for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Study Finds Both Traditional and Electro-Acupuncture Effective for CTS Pain Relief Acupuncture Increases Brain Function for Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Study Shows Kidney 3 Acupuncture Point Improves Brain Function Acupuncture Combined with Movement Therapy Reduces Pain Associated with Acute Lumbar Sprain Study Shows Acupuncture Enhances Endurance Athletics Performance Study Shows Acupuncture Reduces Fatigue and Improves Well-Being for Breast Cancer Survivors Acupressure for Chemotherapy Related Nausea Meta-Analysis Suggests Acupuncture Effective for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Veterans Affairs (VA) Recognizes Certified Acupuncturists Giovanni Maciocia Passed Away Studies finds Moxibustion has Positive Effects Treating Thyroiditis Acupuncture Benefits Sufferers of Exophthalmos Study Shows Reduced Seasonal Allergy Symptoms Small Study Shows Acupuncture a Viable Treatment for Childhood Allergic Rhinitis Pilot Study Shows Promise in Using Acupuncture for Post-Stroke Recovery Study finds Acupuncture Effective for Episodic Migraines Study Finds Acupuncture Reduces Frequency of Migraines Dr. Michael O. Smith, Founder of NADA, Passes Away Study Finds Acupuncture as a Clinical Service both Effective and a Good Value Study Finds Acupuncture Reduces Fatigue for Sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Acupuncture's Role in Solving the Opioid Epidemic Study Finds Acupuncture Provides Stress Relief in Elderly Study Finds Acupuncture Beneficial for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Relief Acupuncture Reduces Adult Bronchial Asthma Symptoms Study Shows Acupuncture Alleviates Fibromyalgia Associated Symptoms Study Supports Using Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia Symptom Relief Study Shows Effectiveness of Moxibustion for IBS Relief Study Shows Acupuncture and Moxibustion Provide Relief from IBD Symptoms FDA Recommends Acupuncture for Pain Management Large-Scale Study Shows Acupuncture is Effective for Many Skin Conditions Study using Acupuncture for Opioid Withdrawal Yields Promising Results Acupuncture Reduces Allergy-Caused Itchiness and Wheals Study Results Support Acupuncture for Functional Dyspepsia Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Chronic Constipation Studies Using Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Show Promise Effects of Acupuncture on Rheumatoid Arthritis Acupuncture Alleviates Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis Acupuncture Effective in Treating Primary Reynauds Acupuncture Effective for Systemic Lupus Pain Acupuncture Effective for Chronic Peripheral Neuropathy A Brief History of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Doctoral Programs Study Shows Acupuncture Effective for Osteoarthritis Relief Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day Study Supports Acupuncture Effects in Pain Control Iraqi doctors use acupuncture during drug shortage Acupuncture May Relieve Joint Pain Caused By Some Breast Cancer Treatments Acupuncture Effective for Crohn's Disease Study Shows that Acupuncture Effective in Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Acupuncture Improves Memory and Learning Capacity Acupuncture Is Effective for Allergic Rhinitis Study Shows Acupuncture Effective for Weight Loss The Anti-Flu Diet Acupuncture May be Effective Treatment for Tinnitus Acupuncture Helps Chronic Headaches According to Largest Study Scientists One Step Closer to Understanding The Analgesic Effects of Acupuncture Acupuncture for Dry Mouth: Point Increases Saliva Production and Brain Activity Acupuncture Eases Side Effects of Head, Neck Cancer Treatments Study Shows Acupuncture Significantly Lowers Blood Pressure Acupuncture for a City Study Shows Acupuncture Works for Migraines Acupuncture Helps Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Study Says Acupuncture Relieves Menstrual Pain, Study Finds Acupuncture increases chances of success in IVF by 65% Chinese Medicine Doctor Saves Passengers on Flight with Emergency Acupuncture Acupuncture Assists Post-Operative Recovery, Studies Show Acupuncturists Treat San Diego Fire Evacuees "Newest" Tool in Global Fight Against Childhood Killer? Ginger Chemical Foundation of TCM Becomes Clearer Acupuncture: Essential Part of IVF Success, Research Finds Acupuncture Very Effective in Treating Post-Surgery Pain New Lung Cancer Guidelines Point to Benefits of Acupuncture Harvard Researchers Discover Genetic Link Between Limiting Calories, Longevity Acupuncture Helps with Fibromyalgia Symptoms Acupuncture Helps Relieve Lower Back Pain Hospitals Turning to TCM and Acupuncture, Other non-Western Treatments Research Analysis Finds TCM and Acupuncture Helpful in Relieving Breast Cancer Effects Qi Gong a Powerful Stress Reliever, Health Boost During SARS Epidemic Chinese Herbs May Hold Keys to New Drugs Electroacupuncture, Laser Therapy Relieve Arthritis Pain Healing in the Streets FDA Recall on Three Red Yeast Rice Products Acupuncture Shows Promise in Treating Acid Reflux Disease Tension Headaches Dramatically Reduced by Acupuncture Acupuncture May Help Some Men with Infertility Problems Acupuncture's Brain Activity Noted British Program Aims to Use Acupuncture, Reiki to Help At-Risk Youth Tai Chi Effective Addition to Immunity Against Shingles, New Study Finds Acupuncture Shows Promise in Treating Children's Allergies Healing a Suffering Continent Chinese Medicine and Endangered Wildlife Neck Pain Reduced by Acupuncture Acupuncture Relieves Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy Cupping: How Gwyneth Paltrow Got Her Spots Acupuncture Effective in Treating Overactive Bladder Historic Points: Acupuncture Needles Blood Pressure Lowered by Acupuncture Study Shows Acupuncture Reduces Frequency of Cancer Therapy Induced Male Hot Flashes SEE LATEST RESEARCH AND NEWS ABOUT ACUPUNCTURE Ancient Medicine for a Modern Disaster Survey Finds One in Ten Adults Has Received Acupuncture

Ask The Acupuncturist

Q: What is the history of the use of acupuncture on animals?

A: History of Veterinary Acupuncture Acupuncture has been used on animals for over 4000 years. Legend has it that veterinary acupuncture was ... Read More

VIEW ALL QUESTIONS