Acupuncture using pattern-identification for the treatment of insomnia disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND: Insomnia symptoms are common, affecting almost 30% of the population of the population. Many use medications that may be ineffective and cause substantial harm. In complementary and alternative medicine, acupuncture is widely used to manage mental health problems. Acupuncture therapy emphasizes individualized treatment according to TCM pattern diagnosis. Although there are some systematic reviews that acupuncture has the benefit for insomnia, there is no systematic review on acupuncture using pattern identification. This review aimed for evaluating acupuncture efficacy using pattern-identification to treat insomnia. METHODS: We carried out a comprehensive review of randomized controlled trials (from 2000 to April 12, 2018), using PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CNKI, and 3 Korean (OASIS, NDSL, RISS4U) databases, comparing acupuncture using pattern identification (only) with medication in primary insomnia. Response rate and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were the primary outcomes. Risk of bias and publication biases were evaluated, and meta-analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Nineteen RCTs were included (11 manual acupuncture (1079 patients), 8 electro-acupuncture (442 patients)) of low quality. Meta-analyses of all studies reveled that acupuncture improved total effectiveness rate (Risk Ratio [RR] = 1.23, 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 1.12–1.35, p < 0.00001; I(2) = 80%) and PSQI (MD = −1.92, 95% CI: −2.41–1.42, p < 0.00001; I(2) = 30%) compared to medication. Results of overall risk of bias assessments were unclear or high. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture using pattern identification led to significantly improved total effectiveness rate compared to medication. With regard to PSQI, as compared to the control group, acupuncture using pattern identification was similar to medication. However, this study has limitations of high risk of bias, not using a standardized pattern-diagnosis-treatment and not comparing with standarized acupuncture without pattern identification.