Acupuncture Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder by Activating the Vagus Nerve and Improving Heart-Rate Variability and Heart-Rhythm Coherence, A Case-Series Study.
Med Acupunct
; 36(1): 21-26, 2024 Feb 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38405597
ABSTRACT
Objective:
The goal of this case series was to observe the effectiveness of acupuncture for reducing sympathetic stress and anxiety-related symptoms in generalized anxiety disorder. The effect of acupuncture on the balance of the autonomic nervous system was also examined. Materials andMethods:
This was a case-series study with 10 participants enrolled. Each participant received acupuncture treatment 2 times per week for 4 weeks. Participants were evaluated with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale and the Body Perception Questionnaire-Short Form (BPQ-SF) before and after the treatment program. Heart-rate variability heart-rhythm coherence (HRC) was also assessed during each acupuncture session.Results:
Five participants completed the program. Both GAD-7 and BPQ mean scores showed significant reductions. The mean HRC high-coherence ratio also increased significantly after acupuncture treatment. No adverse effects occurred.Conclusions:
Acupuncture may be an effective therapy for sympathetic stress and anxiety-related symptoms. The mechanism of action may be through activating the vagus nerve and improving the HRC high coherence ratio. It is feasible to conduct larger clinical trials with random controls, longer treatment durations, and long-term follow-ups to support the results of this study.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Med Acupunct
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos