title: Acupuncture for psychiatric illness: a literature review.
abstract: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is on the rise, especially among psychiatric patients. Acupuncture is considered a safe and effective treatment modality, and traditional Chinese medicine teaches that acupuncture harmonizes the body's energies. Scientific research has found that acupuncture increases a number of central nervous system hormones (ACTH, beta-endorphins, serotonin, and noradrenaline) and urinary levels of MHPG-sulfate, an adrenergic metabolite inversely related to the severity of illness in schizophrenics. Acupuncture can have positive effects on depression and anxiety, although evidence is still lacking as to its true efficacy for these conditions. To the authors' knowledge, no trials have been conducted for schizophrenia, and researchers evaluating acupuncture in cases of substance abuse have found conflicting results. Further research is warranted.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Integrative Complementary Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. refplus@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Noah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.forename: Cornelius
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gropp
authors.forename: Shepherd Roee
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Menachem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oberbaum
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*