Expectancy in real and sham electroacupuncture: does believing make it so?

Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs
Joshua BaumlJun J Mao

Abstract

The large placebo effect observed in prior acupuncture trials presents a substantial challenge for interpretation of the efficacy of acupuncture. We sought to evaluate the relationship between response expectancy, a key component of the placebo effect over time, and treatment outcome in real and sham electroacupuncture (EA). We analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial of EA and sham acupuncture (SA) for joint pain attributable to aromatase inhibitors among women with breast cancer. Responders were identified using the Patient Global Impression of Change instrument at Week 8 (end of intervention). The Acupuncture Expectancy Scale (AES) was used to measure expectancy four times during the trial. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the association between expectancy and treatment response. In the wait list control group, AES remained unchanged over treatment. In the SA group, Baseline AES was significantly higher in responders than nonresponders (15.5 vs 12.1, P = .005) and AES did not change over time. In the EA group, Baseline AES scores did not differ between responders and nonresponders (14.8 vs 15.3, P = .64); however, AES increased in responders compared with nonresponders over time (P = .004 for respon...Continue Reading

References

Aug 8, 2007·Explore : the Journal of Science and Healing·Jun J MaoMarjorie A Bowman
Jan 5, 2010·European Journal of Pain : EJP·Zhen ZhengCharlie Changli Xue
Mar 2, 2010·Primary Care·Jun J Mao, Rahul Kapur
Dec 29, 2011·Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM·Ben Colagiuri, Caroline A Smith
Sep 12, 2012·Archives of Internal Medicine·Andrew J VickersUNKNOWN Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration
Jan 24, 2013·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·M Kay GarciaLorenzo Cohen
May 28, 2013·Pain·Lene VasePeter Svensson
Oct 10, 2013·Acupuncture in Medicine : Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society·Yun-Ji KimYounbyoung Chae
Oct 16, 2013·JAMA Internal Medicine·Karin MeissnerKlaus Linde
Nov 12, 2013·European Journal of Cancer : Official Journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)·Jun J MaoAngela DeMichele

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Citations

Jun 24, 2015·Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies·Lora M A ThompsonPeter A S Johnstone
Mar 10, 2015·Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs·Jun J Mao, Lorenzo Cohen
Aug 26, 2015·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Jun J MaoJohn T Farrar
Apr 27, 2016·Integrative Cancer Therapies·Joshua BaumlJun J Mao
May 23, 2019·Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology·Vincent Chi Ho ChungJustin Che Yuen Wu
Feb 6, 2020·Applied Psychology. Health and Well-being·Benjamin M RottmanAlla Sikorskii

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