Assessment of beliefs in the effectiveness of acupuncture for treatment of psychiatric symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
Research has demonstrated that beliefs or expectancies can exert a powerful influence on treatment and/or drug effects. As patients participate in more complementary and/or alternative treatments for psychiatric conditions, it is important to assess the role of belief or expectancy on response to nontraditional treatment approaches. The Acupuncture Beliefs Scale was developed to assess belief in the efficacy of acupuncture for both physical and psychiatric symptoms and conditions. Development and psychometric properties of the scale are described.


METHODS
Research personnel solicited statements regarding the potential experience and effects of acupuncture. These items were collapsed into a set of 36 items, with some rotated to avoid response bias. Outpatients diagnosed with bipolar disorder and undergraduates completed the scale (n = 118).


RESULTS
The scale yielded excellent internal consistency (coefficient alpha = 0.97), and item-total score correlations between 0.37 and 0.83. Principal component analysis with a varimax rotation revealed three significant and meaningful factors that were consistent across both subject groups. Factors appeared to capture general endorsement of acupuncture treatment, beliefs in the scientific value and credibility of acupuncture treatment, and beliefs about the procedures and physical experience of acupuncture.


CONCLUSIONS
The Acupuncture Beliefs Scale is a 36-item self-report scale that may be useful for measurement of beliefs in the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment.
Dennehy
Ellen B
EB
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA. ellen.dennehy@utsouthwestern.edu
Webb
Andrew
A
Suppes
Trisha
T
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas