Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation alleviates insomnia, negative emotions, and neurotransmitter imbalance in methamphetamine withdrawal: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This randomized controlled trial investigated the therapeutic effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on insomnia, negative emotions, and neurotransmitter levels in patients undergoing methamphetamine (METH) withdrawal. METHODS: We enrolled 84 eligible patients from the Kangxin Hospital of Guizhou Province, China (August 2023-December 2024), randomly allocating them to TEAS (n†=†42) or sham-TEAS (n†=†42) groups. The patients were divided into a TEAS group of 42 cases and a sham-TEAS group of 42 cases according to the randomized, single-blind and control principle. The 2 groups patients were given TEAS or sham-TEAS treatment for 45 minutes after treated with sleep health education. Interventions described above in weekdays were given once a day for 4 weeks, with a total of 4 consecutive weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), insomnia severity index (ISI), METH withdrawal symptom score, Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline, gamma-aminobutyric acid and dopamine of each group were compared before treatment, after treatment and in follow-up period. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups (both P†>†.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, ISI, METH withdrawal symptom, HAMA, HAMD in the TEAS group were significantly lower than those in the sham-TEAS group and the difference was statistically significant (both P†<†.001), serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid and dopamine in the TEAS group were significantly higher than those in the sham-TEAS group, and serum levels of noradrenaline in the TEAS group were significantly lower than those in the sham-TEAS group (both P†<†.001). In follow-up period, the scores of PSQI, ISI, METH withdrawal symptom, HAMA, HAMD in the TEAS group were significantly lower than those in the sham-TEAS group, and the difference was statistically significant (both P†<†.001). CONCLUSION: TEAS effectively improved insomnia, anxiety and depression after METH withdrawal, it is worth of clinical application and promotion while significantly affecting serum levels of neurotransmitters.