DISCUSSION Thursday, May 25, 2:00-4:30
Controversies in Acupuncture Research: Selection of
Controls and Outcome Measures in Acupuncture Clinical Trials
Speakers: Helene M Langevin, MD, Lixing Lao, MD, Rosa
Schnyer, LAc, Karen Sherman, PhD, MPH, Richard Hammerschlag, PhD
One of the perplexing questions currently facing
the field of acupuncture research is that a number of recent clinical
trials have shown no significant differences in therapeutic effects
between the needling of acupuncture points and sham procedures involving
shallow needling of non-acupuncture points (both arms having greater
effects than no treatment). These results raise the following important
questions:
1. If both true and sham (non-point shallow)
needling have equal therapeutic effects, does this imply that needle
placement and needling technique do not matter?
2. Do needle placement and/or technique matter in some clinical situations
but not others? If so, why?
3. Are there other variables besides the physical act of needling that
contribute to acupuncture efficacy?
4. What kind of controls and outcome measures should be used in future
clinical trials?
This session will
1. summarize the methodology and results of recent key clinical trials,
2. discuss the state of knowledge on the anatomy and physiology of acupuncture
points, meridians and needling techniques
3. present methodological recommendations for both clinical trials and
basic research that will move the field forward.