Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2005; 10: 36
The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture and reflexology on primary insomnia in a pilot RCT.
Thirteen consenting participants with sleep disturbances were recruited from the University of Ulster’s staff base. Participants were randomly allocated to receive one of three treatments – acupuncture (n = 5), reflexology (n = 4) or music therapy (n = 4) – six times over 3 weeks in the University of Ulster’s clinic. A blind outcome assessor recorded measures at baseline, week 3 (post treatment) and week 5 (follow-up). The primary outcome measure was the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); secondary measures included the SF-36 version 2 and a sleep diary. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the University of Ulster’s Research Ethical Committee.
Ten participants completed the study. In the acupuncture and reflexology groups there was an improvement observed on the PSQI, from baseline scores to post treatment of 2.7 and 1.7 points and a total change at follow-up to 3.4 and 2.0 points, respectively. A change in the PSQI of 2 points is considered to be clinically important. In the music therapy group a small initial improvement was observed (0.7 points), which deteriorated by 1.0 point from the baseline score at follow-up.
The results indicate that treatment with acupuncture and reflexology produces a clinically important improvement in sleep quality in patients with primary insomnia, whereas music therapy does not. A larger suitably powered study is required to confirm and extend these findings.
