Important to know: Chronic health conditions should be addressed under direct medical supervision of your GP or consultant, and acupuncture would be an adjunct or complement to usual care – we advise that you let you doctor know when you use this approach.

About the research: It is worth noting that in research, randomised controlled studies (RCT) are the most reliable in terms of quality of evidence, with a systematic review or meta analysis of numerous studies being the best way of seeing the overall picture of the state of the evidence. Below we have a selection of the available research, which does include some larger RCTs, and reviews of the literature alongside smaller studies. The n= figure tells you how many people were participants in the study.

The British Acupuncture Council Research Digest (see link below) looks at some of the more recent studies and trials to have been done into Depression, Anxiety, PTSD and Insomnia

See our own Blog on the research for Acupuncture and depression, anxiety, stress and mental health issues.

Resources:

British Acupuncture Council evidence based factsheets exist for the following conditions, including specific research, trials and mechanisms of action for acupuncture in this condition: Anxiety; Depression; Insomnia; PTSD, Stress

British Acupuncture Council Research Digest – Mental Heath (toward the bottom of the document)