Methamphetamine (MA) addiction has become a crucial public health issue due to its adverse effects. Acupuncture has been used for drug detoxification for many years. However, some disadvantages are not be suitable for MA users. The advantages of laser acupuncture includes safety, painless, less time consuming and higher acceptability without current investigation. Therefore, investigators arrange this study to evaluate the efficacy of laser acupuncture combined with golden treatment of cognitive group therapy.
Methamphetamine (MA) addiction has become a crucial public health concern because of its adverse consequences to individuals and the society. Manual or auricular acupuncture have been applied in opioid dependence treatment for a long time. Electroacupuncture may also alleviate the symptoms of MA addiction such as psychosis, anxiety, and depression during abstinence. However, several comorbidities are associated with MA use, such as blood-borne infections, decreased the willingness of physicians to perform. The advantages of laser acupuncture (LA) include its safety, painlessness, limited time use, and higher acceptability, making it suitable for treatment of drug users. To investigate the clinical efficacy of laser acupuncture combined with group cognitive behavioral therapy for MA addiction treatment. MA users who participated in group cognitive behavioral therapy and met the inclusion criteria were referred from psychiatrists to participate. The participants received laser acupuncture treatment once a week for 2 months (total eight treatments) on selected acupoints (PC6, HT7, LI4, ST36, SP6, and LR3). Laboratory assessment included urinalysis for MA and liver function tests aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyltransferase (AST, ALT, and r-GT), whereas the objective assessment included visual analog scale (VAS) for MA craving and refusal and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaires. All data were collected before and at 1 and 2 months after treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy completion rate and rate of relapse to MA use were also determined.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
The interventional group receive laser acupuncture applied on acupoints of PC6 (Neiguan), HT7 (Shenmen), LI4 (Hegu), ST36 (Zusanli), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), and LR3 (Taichong).
Center for traditional chinese medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Guishan Dist, Taoyuan County, Taiwan
RECRUITINGTSE-HUNG HUANG MD PhD
Keelung, Taiwan
RECRUITINGChange of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
To detect liver damage.
Time frame: change from baseline AST at 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-treatment
Change of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
To detect liver damage.
Time frame: change from baseline ALT at 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-treatment
Change of γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT)
To detect liver damage.
Time frame: change from baseline γ-GT at 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-treatment
Change of Amphetamine confirm test
To confirm drug exposure involving amphetamines.
Time frame: change from baseline Amphetamine at 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-treatment
Change of Visual analog scale (VAS)
Evaluation of MA craving and refusal from 0 to 10.
Time frame: change from baseline VAS at 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-treatment
Change of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)
Evaluation of sleep quality.
Time frame: change from baseline PSQI at 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-treatment
Change of Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
Evaluation the degree of anxiety.
Time frame: change from baseline BAI at 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-treatment
Change of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
Evaluation the degree of depression.
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Masking
NONE
Enrollment
15
Time frame: change from baseline BDI at 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-treatment