Thirty-four right-handed adult women with PDM participated in this randomized, single-blinded, sham-controlled study.
Sample Count
34
Age
20-35
Control
Sham
sham acupuncture group(n=16)
Experiment
verum acupuncture group(n=18)
Indicator
Rs-fMRIMcGill Pain Questionnaire(MPQ)The total score of the painSpielberger’s State Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI)Beck’s Depression Inventory II(BDI II)Measurement of Blood Gonadal Hormone LevelEstrogenProgesteroneTestosterone
Auxiliary Medication
For ethical reasons, we allowed subjects to take analgesics if their menstrual pain was too severe to bear.
Stimulation Method
MS
Induction Method
Electroacupuncture Instrument Model
Manufacturer
Frequency
Waveform
Strength
Induction Time
-
-
-
-
-
20 min
Acupuncture_Needle
Needle_Manufacturer
Needle_Depth
0.22×30 mm
-
25 mm
Description In the verum acupuncture group, the standard disposable sterile acupuncture needle (diameter: 0.22 mm, length: 30 mm) was used to penetrate vertically into SP6 to a depth of approximately 25 mm.
Clinical Trial Type
randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled study.
Contraindications
Unsuited for acupuncture treatment, as determined by the physicians of the Department of Chinese Medicine Acupuncture, China Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
Effector
After the 8-week intervention, both verum and sham groups reported decreased menstrual pain. However, the cessation of decreased functional connectivity (FC) between periaqueductal gray matter and the regions associated with affective pain modulation and attention-related pain modulation were found in the verum but not in the sham group after the 8-week intervention. More decreased FC has been found in the region associated with non-specific effects of acupuncture intervention after the early stage of acupuncture intervention. These results indicated that verum acupuncture may intercept the altered FC in descending pain modulation systems in PDM.
Acupuncture Treatment Associated with Functional Connectivity Changes in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Resting State fMRI Study.
Abstract
Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) is the most commonly encountered gynecological problem in reproductive-age women. Acupuncture has been suggested as an effective treatment of PDM that may modulate descending pain modulation systems. In the present study, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate possible changes in descending pain modulation systems after acupuncture treatment in women with PDM. Thirty-four right-handed adult women with PDM participated in this randomized, single-blinded, sham-controlled study. Each patient was randomly allocated to an 8-week verum or sham acupuncture intervention on the bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP6). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was conducted before, during, and after the intervention to measure the spontaneous activity in brain. After the 8-week intervention, both verum and sham groups reported decreased menstrual pain. However, the cessation of decreased functional connectivity (FC) between periaqueductal gray matter and the regions associated with affective pain modulation and attention-related pain modulation were found in the verum but not in the sham group after the 8-week intervention. More decreased FC has been found in the region associated with non-specific effects of acupuncture intervention after the early stage of acupuncture intervention. These results indicated that verum acupuncture may intercept the altered FC in descending pain modulation systems in PDM."
Souce
J Clin Med. 2021 Oct 15;10(20):4731. doi: 10.3390/jcm10204731.
