Acupuncture for chronic insomnia disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of placebo response to acupuncture on subjective and objective sleep indices in patients with chronic insomnia disorder and to understand the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic insomnia disorder (CID).MethodsA comprehensive search was conducte...

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Main Authors: Yi Yu, Xinju Li, Zheng Zhu, Yingdong Wang, Qiang Xi, Jiwen Qiu, Yidan Xu, Ruonan Liang, Yi Guo, Mingxing Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1541276/full
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author Yi Yu
Yi Yu
Xinju Li
Zheng Zhu
Zheng Zhu
Yingdong Wang
Yingdong Wang
Qiang Xi
Jiwen Qiu
Yidan Xu
Ruonan Liang
Yi Guo
Mingxing Zhang
author_facet Yi Yu
Yi Yu
Xinju Li
Zheng Zhu
Zheng Zhu
Yingdong Wang
Yingdong Wang
Qiang Xi
Jiwen Qiu
Yidan Xu
Ruonan Liang
Yi Guo
Mingxing Zhang
author_sort Yi Yu
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of placebo response to acupuncture on subjective and objective sleep indices in patients with chronic insomnia disorder and to understand the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic insomnia disorder (CID).MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted from the inception of the databases to March 17, 2025, encompassing eight databases. A randomized controlled pilot study of collecting acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for the treatment of CID. Systematic collection of acupuncture therapies for CID was performed based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Independent researchers critically reviewed the literature, recorded relevant data, and assessed the quality of research. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.3, Stata 17.0, and TSA 0.9.5.10.ResultsThe study included a total of 757 patients across 10 trials. Acupuncture demonstrated significant improvement in PSQI scores [MD = −2.60, 95% CI = (−3.24, −1.97), p < 0.00001] and ISI scores (MD = −2.04, 95% CI = [−3.18, −0.90], p = 0.0005) compared to sham acupuncture. Sequential analyses of the trials showed stable results. Subgroup analyses showed that manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture were superior to sham acupuncture in improving PSQI scores [MD = −3.85, 95% CI = (−4.94, −2.76), p < 0.00001; MD = −1.67, 95% CI = (−2.25, −1.08), p < 0.00001]. Manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture were superior to sham acupuncture in improving ISI scores [MD = −2.60, 95% CI = (−4.72, −0.48), p = 0.02; MD = −1.93, 95% CI = (−3.16, −0.71), p = 0.002]. In terms of objective sleep indices, there was no statistically significant difference in total sleep time between acupuncture and sham acupuncture [MD = 11.92, 95% CI = (−20.25, 44.09), p = 0.47]. Acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture in terms of sleep efficiency and wake after sleep onset [MD = 3.62, 95% CI = (0.92, 6.32), p = 0.009; MD = −18.53, 95% CI = (−29.22, −7.85), p = 0.0007]. However, the sequential analysis indicated limitations due to small sample size which hindered drawing definitive conclusions.ConclusionCompared with sham acupuncture, acupuncture is effective in improving subjective sleep quality in patients with CID. However, whether acupuncture improves patients’ objective sleep indices compared to sham acupuncture is uncertain and more high-quality clinical trial evidence is needed to validate this.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, Identifier CRD42024541760.
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spelling doaj-art-a64217491c1540ddabcfb23e50c8ca9d2025-08-20T03:19:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-04-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15412761541276Acupuncture for chronic insomnia disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysisYi Yu0Yi Yu1Xinju Li2Zheng Zhu3Zheng Zhu4Yingdong Wang5Yingdong Wang6Qiang Xi7Jiwen Qiu8Yidan Xu9Ruonan Liang10Yi Guo11Mingxing Zhang12School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaResearch Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaResearch Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaResearch Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Medical Technology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Intergrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Intergrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaResearch Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Intergrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaObjectiveTo investigate the effect of placebo response to acupuncture on subjective and objective sleep indices in patients with chronic insomnia disorder and to understand the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic insomnia disorder (CID).MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted from the inception of the databases to March 17, 2025, encompassing eight databases. A randomized controlled pilot study of collecting acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for the treatment of CID. Systematic collection of acupuncture therapies for CID was performed based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Independent researchers critically reviewed the literature, recorded relevant data, and assessed the quality of research. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.3, Stata 17.0, and TSA 0.9.5.10.ResultsThe study included a total of 757 patients across 10 trials. Acupuncture demonstrated significant improvement in PSQI scores [MD = −2.60, 95% CI = (−3.24, −1.97), p < 0.00001] and ISI scores (MD = −2.04, 95% CI = [−3.18, −0.90], p = 0.0005) compared to sham acupuncture. Sequential analyses of the trials showed stable results. Subgroup analyses showed that manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture were superior to sham acupuncture in improving PSQI scores [MD = −3.85, 95% CI = (−4.94, −2.76), p < 0.00001; MD = −1.67, 95% CI = (−2.25, −1.08), p < 0.00001]. Manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture were superior to sham acupuncture in improving ISI scores [MD = −2.60, 95% CI = (−4.72, −0.48), p = 0.02; MD = −1.93, 95% CI = (−3.16, −0.71), p = 0.002]. In terms of objective sleep indices, there was no statistically significant difference in total sleep time between acupuncture and sham acupuncture [MD = 11.92, 95% CI = (−20.25, 44.09), p = 0.47]. Acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture in terms of sleep efficiency and wake after sleep onset [MD = 3.62, 95% CI = (0.92, 6.32), p = 0.009; MD = −18.53, 95% CI = (−29.22, −7.85), p = 0.0007]. However, the sequential analysis indicated limitations due to small sample size which hindered drawing definitive conclusions.ConclusionCompared with sham acupuncture, acupuncture is effective in improving subjective sleep quality in patients with CID. However, whether acupuncture improves patients’ objective sleep indices compared to sham acupuncture is uncertain and more high-quality clinical trial evidence is needed to validate this.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, Identifier CRD42024541760.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1541276/fullacupuncturechronic insomnia disordersystematic reviewmeta-analysistrial sequential analysis
spellingShingle Yi Yu
Yi Yu
Xinju Li
Zheng Zhu
Zheng Zhu
Yingdong Wang
Yingdong Wang
Qiang Xi
Jiwen Qiu
Yidan Xu
Ruonan Liang
Yi Guo
Mingxing Zhang
Acupuncture for chronic insomnia disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
Frontiers in Neurology
acupuncture
chronic insomnia disorder
systematic review
meta-analysis
trial sequential analysis
title Acupuncture for chronic insomnia disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
title_full Acupuncture for chronic insomnia disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
title_fullStr Acupuncture for chronic insomnia disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
title_full_unstemmed Acupuncture for chronic insomnia disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
title_short Acupuncture for chronic insomnia disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
title_sort acupuncture for chronic insomnia disorder a systematic review with meta analysis and trial sequential analysis
topic acupuncture
chronic insomnia disorder
systematic review
meta-analysis
trial sequential analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1541276/full
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