The Effect Of Acupuncture Versus Cognitive Behavior Therapy On Insomnia In Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial

10001Background: Insomnia is a common and debilitating disorder experienced by up to 60% of cancer survivors. We evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture versus cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). Methods: We conducted a randomized clinical trial of acupuncture vs. CBT-I among 160 post-treatment cancer survivors with clinically diagnosed insomnia disorder. Acupuncture involved stimulating body points with needles. CBT-I included sleep restriction, stimulus control, cognitive restructuring, relaxation training, and education. The intervention duration was eight weeks (primary end point) with a follow up assessment at 20 weeks. Insomnia severity, measured by the Insomnia Severity Index, was the primary outcome. Results: The mean age of participants was 61.5 years, 57% (n = 91) were women, and 29.4% (n = 47) were non-white. At the end of treatment, acupuncture reduced insomnia severity by 8.3 points (95% CI 7.3-9.4), compared to 10.9 points (95% CI 9.8-12.0) for CBT-I, with CBT-I being the mor...