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Table 1 Characteristics of included studies

From: Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Author (year, location)

Age (years)

mean (SD)

Gender

M/F

Number of subjects

(I/C)

Diagnosis

Intervention methods & delivery

(treated acupoints)

Type of control

Outcome measures used for meta-analysis

Report of side effect

Che,

(2015, China)

43.2

(7.8)

32/48

80

(40/40)

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 6 weeks

Acupoints: Baihui, Shangxing, Shenting, Shuigou, Tanzhong, Juque, and Zhongwan

Medication:

Paroxetine

20 mg/d,

6 weeks

Anxiety (HAMA)

TESS

I: 6 cases

C: 12 cases

Cheng et al. (2018, China)

I:

36.5

(8.6)

C: 35.8

(7.9)

I:

19/14

C: 20/13

66

(33/33)

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture plus medication (Buspirone, same dose with control)

Duration: 4 Weeks

Acupoints: Baihui, Sishencong, Touwei, Shenmen, Neiguan, Shousanli, Sanyinjiao, and Yanglingquan

Medication:

Buspirone

20 mg-30 mg/d

4 weeks

Anxiety (HAMA)

NR

Li et al. (2015, China)

I:

67(6.4)

C:

69 (8.7)

I:

15/6

C:

17/7

45

21/24

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 6 weeks

Aucpoints: Laogong, Hegu, Neiguan, Shenmen, and Sanyinjiao

Medication:

Lorazepam, 1.5 -3 mg/d

Duration: 6 weeks

Anxiety (HAMA)

I < C

Liu et al. (2007, China)

38.48

(15.80)

30/56

86

29/28/29

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 6 weeks

Acupoints: Sishenzhen, Dingsehnzhen, Neiguan, Shenmen, and Sanyinjiao

C1*: medication:

Paroxetine,

20 mg/d or fluoxetine

20 mg/d; or Alprazolam 0.4–1.6 mg/d

C2: Acupuncture plus medication (dose same with C1)

Anxiety (HAMA)

TESS

I < C2 < C1

Mak et al. 2019

(Hongkong, China)

I:

50.85 (11.57)

C:

50.83 (14.15)

I: 20/20

C: 18/22

80

40/40

GAD

(DSM-5)

Electroacupuncture

Duration: 10 weeks

Acupoint pairs: bilateral Neiguan and Shenmen, bilateral Zusanli and Shangjuxu, bilateral

Sanyinjiao and LR3Taichong, and left Baihui and Yintang

Sham electroacupuncture;

Utilize same acupoints with intervention group

Duration: 10 weeks

Anxiety (7-item Patient Health Questionnaire section for anxiety);

Depression (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9)

NR

Wang et al. (2003, China)

I:

38.2

(9.4)

C:

35.7

(8.8)

I:

7/13

C:

8/11

39

20/19

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Electroacupuncture

Duration: 6 weeks

Acupoints: Yintang, Baihui, Xuanlu, and Fengchi

Medication:

Trazodone Hydrochloride,

100–150 mg/d,

Duration: 6 weeks

Anxiety (HAMA);

Depression (SDS)

NR

Wang et al. (2005, China)

NR

NR

65

35/30

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 30 days

Acupoints: Yintang, Baihui, Neiguan, Shenmen, Tanzhong, and Sanyinjiao

Medication:

Clomipram 0.5–2 mg, twice or three times a day, supplemented with Oryzanol 20 mg, three times a day, or Propranolol 10–20 mg, three times a day;

Duration: 30 days

Anxiety (SAS)

NR

Wang (2007, China)

I,

18–63

C:

18–64

I:

9/12

C:

8/12

41

21/20

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 30 days

Acupoints: Bihui, Yintang, Shenmen, and Sanyinjiao

Medication:

Deanxit,

2 tablets /d;

Duration: 30 days

Anxiety (HAMA)

NR

Wang et al. (2010, China)

28–65

I:

11/19

C:

9/21

60

30/30

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 3 weeks

Acupoints: Xinyu, Ganyu, Danyu, Geyu, and Shenyu

Medication: Alprazolam,

0.4–0.8 mg/d

Duration: 3 weeks

Anxiety (HAMA)

NR

Xiong,

(2013, China)

16–55

32/39

71

36/35

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 30 days

Acupoints: Guanyuan, Zhongwan, Zhenwei, Tanzhong, Chengjiang, Baihui, Shenting, Fengfu, Dazhui, Zhiyang, and Mingmen

Medication: Deanxit,

2 tablets /d; and

Oryzanol 30 mg/d

Duration: 30 days

Anxiety (SAS)

NR

Xu et al. (2012, China)

I:

38(7.5)

C:

39(8.4)

I:

12/20

C:

10/20

62

32/30

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture plus Chinese traditional medicine (dose was the same with the control group)

Duration: 6 weeks

Acupoints: Baihui, Sishencong, Yinquexue, Neiguan, Sanyinjiao, Hegu, and Taichong

Chinese traditional medicine:

Shugan Qingre recipe: Chaihu, Huaimai, liquorice, rose, cicada clothing, and Scutellaria;

One dose/d;

Duration: 6 weeks

Anxiety (HAMA)

NR

Xu et al. (2016, China)

I,

25–60

C:

23–61

I:

14/16

C:

18/12

60

30/30

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture (Yu's scalp needle)

Duration: 4 weeks

Acupoint: the emotional areas, which are from the fontanelle to the shenting and its parallel lines of 1 inch and 2 inch to the left and right, respectively

Medication:

Buspirone,

20–40 mg/d,

4 weeks

Anxiety (HAMA)

NR

Yan (2018, China)

I,

42.5

(4.2)

C:

42.2

(4.0)

I:

13/17

C:

11/19

60

30/30

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture combined with self-acupoint massage

Duration: 1 month

Acupoints: Minghuangxue, Tianhuangxue, Qihuangxue, Baihui, and Yintang

Self-acupoint massage therapy:

To press Fengchi point with both thumbs, temple point with left thumbs, Zhongwan point, Neiguan point, Qihai point, Tanzhong point with right thumbs, Baihui Point with right middle fingers. All the above acupoints were massaged by finger

Duration: 1 month

Anxiety (HAMA)

NR

Zhang (2001, China)

16–60

160/130

296

157/139

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 30 days

Acupoints: Baihui, Neiguan, Renzhong, Sanyinjiao, and Beiyu

Medication:

Doxepin, 150 mg/d;

Duration: 30 days

Anxiety (SAS)

NR

Zhang et al. (2010, China)

I:

45.69

(5.54)

C:

46.90

(5.89)

I:83/103

C:61/103

325

186/139

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 4 weeks

Acupoints: Three Huang Points of DONG’s

extra-points (Minghuang, Tianhuang and

Qihuang)

Medication:

Buspirone, 15 mg/d;

Duration: 4 weeks

Anxiety (HAMA)

I:1.6%

C:33.8%

Zhao et al. (2014, China)

I:

42.31

(8.44)

C:

41.5

(7.89)

I: 11/19

C: 13/17

60

30/30

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 6 weeks

Acupoints: Sishen, Congtou, Baihui, Shenting, Shuigou, Bneshen, Fengchi (bilateral), Neiguan (bilateral), and Shenmen (bilateral)

Medication:

Fluoxetine, 20 mg/d;

Duration: 6 weeks

Anxiety (HAMA)

TESS

I: 2 cases

C: 8 cases

Zhao et al. (2018, China)

I:

42.59

(8.17)

C:

43.31

(7.96)

I:20/35

C:23/36

112

53/59

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 6 weeks

Acupoints: Yintang, Baihuim Fengchi, Neiguan, Sanyinjiao, and Taichong

Medication:

Buspirone,

15 mg/d;

Duration: 6 weeks

Anxiety (HAMA)

I: 3 cases

C: 9 cases

Zheng et al. (2004, China)

I:

35 (5.2)

C:

34(6.1)

I: 13/45

C:15/35

108

58/50

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 8 weeks

Acupoints: Xinyu, Jueyinyu, Baihui, Shenting, and Shenmen

Medication:

Alprazolam,

0.4–0.8 mg/d;

Duration: 8 weeks

Anxiety (HAMA)

I < C

Zheng et al. (2014, China)

I:

17–56

C:

22–53

I: 12/18

C: 9/21

60

30/30

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 4 weeks

Acupoints: Xinyu, Jueyinyu, Feiyu, Ganyu, Danyu,Weiyu, Piyu, Sanjiaoyu, Shenyu, and Baihui

Auricular point sticking therapy:

Duration: 4 weeks

Anxiety (SAS)

NR

Zhou et al. (2013, China)

I:

38 (8)

C:

38 (10)

I: 16/24

C18/22

80

40/40

GAD

(CCMD-3)

Acupuncture

Duration: 6 weeks

Acupoints: Lieque, Hegu, Shenmen, Houxi, Waiguan, laogong, Yongquan, Zhibian, Yinlingquan, Zusanli, Taichong, and Yanglingquan

Medication:

Clonazepam,

4–8 mg/d;

Duration: 6 weeks

Anxiety (HAMA)

NR

  1. I intervention, C control, NR Not Reported, CCMD-3 Chinese standard for mental disorders and diagnosis (3rd Edition), DSM the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, GAD generalized anxiety disorder, HAMA Hamilton anxiety scale, HAMD Hamilton depression scale, SAS self-rating anxiety scale, SDS self-rating depression scale, HSCL-25 self-rated Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25
  2. *Selected as control group for those studies with two control groups