Acupuncture versus cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety among cancer survivors with insomnia: An exploratory analysis of a randomized clinical trial
Background: Anxiety and insomnia frequently co-occur among cancer survivors and are strongly interconnected, yet no widely accepted intervention simultaneously targets both symptoms. Methods: Data were drawn from a dual-center, parallel-group, randomized, comparative effectiveness trial evaluating a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | Integrative Medicine Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422025000939 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Background: Anxiety and insomnia frequently co-occur among cancer survivors and are strongly interconnected, yet no widely accepted intervention simultaneously targets both symptoms. Methods: Data were drawn from a dual-center, parallel-group, randomized, comparative effectiveness trial evaluating acupuncture versus CBT-I for insomnia. Seventy-six participants with baseline Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A) scores of ≥8 were included. Both interventions were administered over eight weeks, with follow-up until 20 weeks. Anxiety was assessed at baseline, week 8, and week 20 using HADS-A. A linear mixed-effects model was used to examine mean change in HADS-A scores. Additionally, responder analyses were conducted, with insomnia and anxiety responders defined as patients demonstrating clinically meaningful improvements in either outcome by week 8. Results: Both CBT-I and acupuncture significantly reduced HADS-A scores at week 8 (CBT-I: -3.75; acupuncture: -3.14) and week 20 (CBT-I: -3.05; acupuncture: -2.66) compared to baseline (all p < 0.001). There was no between-group difference (p=0.85). In responder analyses, CBT-I showed greater anxiety reduction in insomnia responders (-4.62) than non-responders (-0.45), at both time points (week 8: p=0.0046; week 20: p=0.038). In the acupuncture group, the difference in anxiety reduction between insomnia responders (-3.96) and non-responders (-1.58) was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Both acupuncture and CBT-I effectively manage comorbid anxiety and insomnia in cancer survivors. Acupuncture may address these symptoms independently, while CBT-I may improve them in an interconnected manner. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov registration (NCT02356575). |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2213-4220 |