[Effect of acupuncture at acupoints on hyperarousal state in chronic insomnia].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture at (regulating the spirit) acupoints on chronic insomnia and hyperarousal state, and explore its possible mechanism.

METHODS

A total of 60 patients with chronic insomnia were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a sham acupuncture group (30 cases, 1 cases dropped off). Both groups were given basic sleep health education. The acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at acupoints including Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Yintang (GV 29), Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The sham acupuncture group was treated with non-effective point shallow acupuncture. Both groups were treated once every other day, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score, pre-sleep arousal scale (PSAS) score, hyperarousal scale (HAS) score, and serum gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) level before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Compared before treatment, the sleep quality, time to fall asleep, sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, daytime dysfunction scores and total score of PSQI, various scores and total score of PSAS, and HAS score in the acupuncture group after treatment were decreased (<0.05, <0.01); in the sham acupuncture group, the time to fall asleep, daytime dysfunction scores and total score of PSQI, and cognitive arousal score of PSAS after treatment were decreased (<0.05). After treatment, the sleep quality, time to fall asleep, sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, daytime dysfunction scores and total score of PSQI, various scores and total score of PSAS, and HAS score in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the sham acupuncture group (<0.05, <0.01). Compared before treatment, the serum GABA level in the acupuncture group were increased (<0.05), and the serum GABA level in the acupuncture group was higher than that in the sham acupuncture group after treatment (<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture at acupoints can obviously improve the sleep and hyperarousal state of patients with chronic insomnia, and up-regulating serum GABA content is one of its possible mechanisms.