Acupuncture on Yintang point decreases preoperative anxiety.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ear-press needle acupuncture on Yintang point for preoperative anxiety. DESIGN This was a prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled study. SETTINGS/LOCATION The study setting was the Department of Anesthesiology in Ankara Training and Research Hospital of Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey. SUBJECTS The study comprised 52 adult surgical patients. INTERVENTIONS A single, 20-minute session of single-point acupuncture was applied on Yintang (acupuncture group) or sham point (sham acupuncture group). OUTCOME MEASURES The efficacy of acupuncture was evaluated by means of the changes in bispectral index (BIS) and STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Index). RESULTS BIS values in the acupuncture group were significantly lower than in the sham group in all time intervals (p<0.0042). BIS values were lower than baseline in the study group during the entire study period (p<0.0004) while no such effect has been observed in the sham group (p>0.0004). Mean values of state anxiety (STAI-S) decreased after acupuncture in the study group (p=0,018), while no change was observed in trait anxiety (STAI-T) (p=0.156). Patients of the sham group showed no change in both parameters (p=0.387 and p=0,116). CONCLUSIONS Ear-press needle acupuncture on Yintang point reduces preoperative anxiety in adult surgical patients.