Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Auricular Acupuncture in Suicidal Ideation and Cortisol Level in Dysthymic Patients with Comorbid Opiate Use Disorders Enrolled in Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial
Abstract
Background: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death around the world. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis disorder is involved in the pathophysiology of suicidal behavior. Acupuncture by regulating the activity of the HPA axis could regulate the secretion of cortisol. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture in the reduction of cortisol level and suicidal ideation in dysthymic patients with comorbid opiate use disorders enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial (TCTR20180328001), from December 2015 to June 2016, 24 patients (mean age = 24 years) with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) under methadone maintenance treatment who referred to Bijan Center for Substance Abuse Treatment in Tehran were selected through respondent-driven sampling (RDS). After 28 days of evaluation, the participants were randomized into two active or sham continuous groups. Auricular acupuncture was performed twice a week for four weeks for the experimental group while the control group received the sham acupuncture. Assessments were carried out before treatment (baseline) and every week for four weeks. Salivary cortisol was considered the primary outcome and the suicide ideation was the secondary outcome. The data were analyzed by the generalized estimation equation (GEE) model and the chi-square test. The qualitative data were analyzed using ATLAS/TI 5 software.…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Cortisol, obesity and the metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study of obese subjects and review of the literature
- Relationships between lead biomarkers and diurnal salivary cortisol indices in pregnant women from Mexico City: a cross-sectional study
- Pubertal Recalibration of Cortisol Reactivity Following Early Life Stress: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
- High-end normal adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels are associated with specific cardiovascular risk factors in pediatric obesity: a cross-sectional study
- Effects of remote virtual work environment during COVID-19 pandemic on technostress among Menoufia University Staff, Egypt: a cross-sectional study
- Low serum albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, and body mass are risk factors for frailty in elderly people with diabetes–a cross-sectional study
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.