Acupuncture for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Prospective Clinical Trials

Table 4

Meta-analysis of acupuncture for posttraumatic stress disorder. PTSD: posttraumatic stress disorder; CAPS, clinician-administered PTSD scale; HAMD, Hamilton depression rating scale; HAMA, Hamilton anxiety rating scale; EA, electro-acupuncture; moxa, moxibustion; SSRI, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors;

(a) PTSD scale (CAPS).

Study or subgroup	EA + Moxa			SSRI				Mean difference	Mean difference
	Mean	SD	Total	Mean	SD	Total	Weight	IV, random, 95% CI	IV, random, 95% CI
Zhang et al., 2010 [25]	−36.15	21.72	69	−35.58	22.12	69	1.0%	−0.57 [−7.88, 6.74]
Zhang et al., 2010 [26]	−17.17	1.84	46	−13.95	1.76	46	99.0%	−3.22 [−3.96, −2.48]
Total (95% CI)			115			115	100.0%	−3.19 [−3.93, −2.46]
Heterogeneity: 𝜏^2 = 0.00, 𝜒^2 = 0.50, df = 1 (𝑃 = 0.48); 𝐼^2 = 0%
Test for overall effect: 𝑍 = 8.55 (𝑃 < 0.00001)

(b) Depression (HAMD).

Study or subgroup	EA + Moxa			SSRI				Mean difference	Mean difference
	Mean	SD	Total	Mean	SD	Total	Weight	IV, random, 95% CI	IV, random, 95% CI
Zhang et al., 2010 [25]	−7.42	5.58	69	−6.55	5.1	69	6.2%	−0.87 [−2.65, 0.91]
Zhang et al., 2010 [26]	−7.27	0.93	46	−5.45	0.91	46	93.8%	−1.82 [−2.20, −1.44]
Total (95% CI)			115			115	100.0%	−1.76 [−2.21, −1.31]
Heterogeneity: 𝜏^2 = 0.02, 𝜒^2 = 1. 04,df = 1 (𝑃 = 0.31); 𝐼^2 = 4%
Test for overall effect: 𝑍 = 7.72 (𝑃 < 0.00001)

(c) Anxiety (HAMA).

Study or subgroup	EA + Moxa			SSRI				Mean difference	Mean difference
	Mean	SD	Total	Mean	SD	Total	Weight	IV, random, 95% CI	IV, random, 95% CI
Zhang et al., 2010 [25]	−6.51	5.26	69	−6.08	5.43	69	2.9%	−0.43 [−2.21, 1.35]
Zhang et al., 2010 [26]	−5.48	0.75	46	−4.32	0.75	46	97.1%	−1.16 [−1.47, −0.85]
Total (95% CI)			115			115	100.0%	−1.14 [−1.44, −0.84]
Heterogeneity:𝜏^2 = 0.00, 𝜒^2 = 0.62, df = 1 (𝑃 = 0.43); 𝐼^2 = 0%
Test for overall effect: 𝑍 = 7.39 (𝑃< 0.00001)