Acupuncture for Anxiety in Lactating Mothers with Preterm Infants : A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract EN

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture versus placebo acupuncture on anxiety in lactating mothers with preterm infants.

A parallel, randomized, patient-assessor blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary school hospital in Londrina, Brazil, between 2011 and 2012.

Mothers (n=29) with very low birth weight infants born at this institution were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: acupuncture, AG (n=14), or placebo acupuncture, PG (n=15).

Treatment sessions occurred once a week, using 5 Chinese auricular points unilaterally.

The primary outcome measure was STAI-State scores, and secondary outcome measure was salivary cortisol levels.

Both measures were collected before and after treatment and submitted to a blind assessor.

Before-after treatment mean difference in STAI-State scores was observed in both groups (AG = 8.71 and PG = 8.20), not statistically significant (P=0.888), although within group analysis was significant for both groups (P<0.005).

Salivary cortisol levels did not change after treatment in both groups (P=0.480).

There was no correlation between STAI and salivary cortisol results.

At infant’s hospital discharge, 76% subjects were breastfeeding exclusively.

There was no difference between real and placebo acupuncture for anxiety in mothers with preterm infants.