IMPORTANCE
Electroacupuncture (A) is a widely recognized therapy for depression and sleep disorders in clinical practice, but its efficacy in the treatment of comorbid insomnia and depression remains uncertain.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and safety of EA as an alternative therapy in improving sleep quality and mental state for patients with insomnia and depression.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
A 32-week patient- and assessor-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial (8-week intervention plus 24-week observational follow-up) was conducted from September 1, 2016, to July 30, 2019, at 3 tertiary hospitals in Shanghai, China.
Patients were randomized to receive EA treatment and standard care, sham acupuncture (SA) treatment and standard care, or standard care only as control. Patients were 18 to 70 years of age, had insomnia, and met the criteria for depression as classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition). Data were analyzed from May 4 to September 13, 2020.
