A controlled trial of placebo versus real acupuncture.
We sought to determine whether a novel method of placebo acupuncture can be differentiated by subjects from real acupuncture treatment. A single-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial with an independent observer was performed. Forty-nine healthy subjects over the age of 18 years were randomly assigned to one of 2 experimental groups: 24 subjects received real acupuncture, and 25 subjects received placebo acupuncture. Placebo acupuncture was performed by administering a blunted acupuncture needle through a foam pad at the Large Intestine 4 acupoint. The blunted needle touched but did not penetrate the skin. Real acupuncture was performed by administering an acupuncture needle through a foam pad at the Large Intestine 4 acupoint. The needle pricked and penetrated the skin to a depth of 10 to 20 mm. A simple questionnaire followed, asking whether the subject believed they received real or placebo acupuncture. Twenty-two (88%) of the 25 subjects who received placebo acupuncture believed they received real acupuncture. Nineteen (79.2%) of the 24 subjects who received real acupuncture correctly determined they received real acupuncture. The Fisher exact test showed an insignificant difference between real and placebo acupuncture treatments (P = .463). Subjects were not able to differentiate between real or placebo acupuncture, thereby validating this novel method of administering placebo acupuncture as a good control for acupuncture-naive patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The method of placebo acupuncture herein described is a valid control for acupuncture research involving acupuncture-naive patients.
Goddard
Greg
G
Center for Orofacial Pain, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Goddard@itsa.ucsf.edu
Shen
Yoshi
Y
Steele
Brian
B
Springer
Nathan
N
D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D035061:Control Groups; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D015990:Placebo Effect; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires