Effects of Electroacupuncture Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Chronic Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Study

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of spirit-regulating electroacupuncture (EA), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and combined EA/CBT to treat insomnia. Methods. In this prospective clinical study, patients were randomly assigned to receive EA, CBT, or EA/CBT. Outcomes were assessed using PSQI, ISI, ESS, DBAS-16, HAM-A, and HAM-D at two- and four-week follow-up. Results. Overall, the PSQI and ISI scores decreased after treatment in all three groups. At two-week follow-up, the EA/CBT group obtained lower PSQI and ISI scores than the EA group. The daytime functional factor score in the EA group was lower than that of the CBT group after the second week of treatment, and the EA/CBT PSQI score was lower than that of the CBT group on the second week of follow-up. In comparison with baseline, the EA group had a decreased ESS score after the second and fourth weeks of treatment, while the ESS score increased in the CBT group after the fourth week of treatment. ESS scores were unchanged following treatment in the EA/CBT group. After the second and fourth weeks of treatment, the ESS scores from the CBT group were higher than the EA group. The DBAS-16 decreased in the CBT and EA/CTB groups, while the EA group had a higher DBAS-16 score. In all three groups, HAM-A and HAM-D scores decreased after treatment; the EA/CBT HAM-A and HAM-D scores were lower than the other two groups. Conclusion. 1. Spirit-regulating EA therapy is effective. In terms of improving sleep quality and mood, EA has the same effect as CBT and can improve daytime function earlier. 2. The curative effect of the EA/CBT group lasts longer than that of the EA group, and EA/CBT is better at improving daytime function compared to CBT alone and better at improving mood compared to CBT or EA alone.