Bin Feng1, Zhang-Jin Zhang2, Rui-Ming Zhu3, Guo-Zhen Yuan4, Li-Yuan Luo5, Grainne M McAlonan6, Fang-Zhong Xu1, Jiong Chen1, Lan-Ying Liu1, Yang-Yang Lv5, Hei Kiu Wong7, Ying Zhang1, Li-Xia Zhu3. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. 2. School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: zhangzj@hku.hk. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Yiwu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Wuxi Mental Health Center, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China. 5. The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. 6. Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK. 7. School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is thought to have potential to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether adding TEAS to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and clomipramine would improve the efficacy of these conventional treatments in OCD. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 360 OCD patients were assigned to receive TEAS combined with CBT plus clomipramine (Group A, n = 120), TEAS combined with CBT plus placebo (Group B, n = 120), and simulated (placebo) TEAS combined with CBT plus clomipramine (Group C, n = 120) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). RESULTS:OCD symptoms in all patients reduced over time, however Groups A and B had a significantly greater reduction in Y-BOCS total score and the subscale for obsession and compulsion between week 2 and week 12 compared to Group C. Groups A and B had similar scores on these measures. Both groups had significantly higher rates of clinical response than Group C (88.3% and 81.7% vs. 67.5%, respectively, p < 0.001); and higher rates of remission (30.0% and 22.5% vs. 9.2%, respectively, p < 0.001). Group B experienced fewer adverse events than the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS:TEAS enhances the efficacy of conventional OCD interventions and avoids the adverse effects associated with conventional pharmacological treatment. It can be considered as an effective adjunct intervention for OCD.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is thought to have potential to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether adding TEAS to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and clomipramine would improve the efficacy of these conventional treatments in OCD. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 360 OCDpatients were assigned to receive TEAS combined with CBT plus clomipramine (Group A, n = 120), TEAS combined with CBT plus placebo (Group B, n = 120), and simulated (placebo) TEAS combined with CBT plus clomipramine (Group C, n = 120) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). RESULTS:OCD symptoms in all patients reduced over time, however Groups A and B had a significantly greater reduction in Y-BOCS total score and the subscale for obsession and compulsion between week 2 and week 12 compared to Group C. Groups A and B had similar scores on these measures. Both groups had significantly higher rates of clinical response than Group C (88.3% and 81.7% vs. 67.5%, respectively, p < 0.001); and higher rates of remission (30.0% and 22.5% vs. 9.2%, respectively, p < 0.001). Group B experienced fewer adverse events than the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS:TEAS enhances the efficacy of conventional OCD interventions and avoids the adverse effects associated with conventional pharmacological treatment. It can be considered as an effective adjunct intervention for OCD.