Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To observe therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on internet addiction disorder (lAD) and to preliminarily probe the mechanism.

METHODS:

Forty-seven cases of TAD were randomly divided into a psychotherapy group and an EA plus psychotherapy group. The psychotherapy group were treated with cognition and behavior therapy, once every 4 days, 10 sessions constituting one course; the EA plus psychotherapy group were treated with EA at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. once every other day, for 20 sessions, in combination with the same psychotherapy as that in the psychotherapy group. Changes of score of lAD, score of anxiety self-rating scale (SAS), score of Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and serum norepinephrine (NE) content before and after treatment were observed.

RESULTS:

The total effective rate was 91.3% in the EA plus psychotherapy group and 59.1% in the psychotherapy group, the former being better than the latter (P<0.05). The scores for IAD, SAS, HAMA, and the se-rum NE content after treatment were significantly decreased in the two groups (both P<0.01). Those in the EA plus psychotherapy group were significantly lower than those in the psychotherapy group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Electroacupuncture combined with psychologic interference can significantly improve anxiety state and the mechanism is possibly related with the decrease of NE in the body.