Effects of acupuncture and medical training therapy on depression, anxiety, and quality of life in patients with frequent tension-type headache: A randomized controlled study

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the effects of acupuncture and medical training therapy in combination or individually with usual care on quality of life, depression, and anxiety in patients with tension-type headache. Methods: In this single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled, unblinded trial, 96 adults (38.7(+/−13.3) years of age; 75 females/20 males/one dropout) with frequent episodic or chronic tension-type headache were randomized to one of four treatment groups (n = 24). The treatment groups received six weeks of either acupuncture or medical training therapy as monotherapies or in combination (12 interventions each), or usual care. We assessed depressiveness (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and health-related quality of life (SF-12) as secondary outcome parameters at baseline, six weeks, three months, and six months after initiation of treatment. Linear mixed models were calculated. Results: Both, acupuncture (baseline to six-weeks change scores: mean: −2(standard deviation: 2.5 points), three months: −2.4(2.4), six-months −2.7(3.6)) and the combination of acupuncture and medical training therapy (−2.7(4.9), −2.2(4.0), −2.2(4.2)) (each within-group p