title: Acupuncture for chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a systematic review.
abstract: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of  acupuncture as a treatment option for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain  syndrome. Eight databases were searched from their inception to October 2010.  Randomized clinical trials (RCT) were considered if they tested acupuncture  against any control intervention or no therapy in humans with chronic  prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The selection of studies, data  extraction, and validation were performed independently by 2 reviewers. The  methodologic quality of all included RCTs was assessed using the Jadad scale.  Studies of stimulation of acupoints other than by needles were excluded. Nine  RCTs met the inclusion criteria. They all suggested that acupuncture is  effective as a range of control interventions. Their methodologic quality was  variable; most were associated with major flaws. Only one RCT had a Jadad  score of more than 3. The evidence that acupuncture is effective for chronic  prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is encouraging but, because of  several caveats, not conclusive. Therefore, more rigorous studies seem  warranted.
authors: Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, Veysey Building, Salmon Pool Line, Exeter, United Kingdom. Paul.Posadzki@pcmd.ac.uk
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Posadzki
authors: Junhua
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Myeong Soo
authors: MS
authors: Lee
authors: Edzard
authors: E
authors: Ernst
mesh_terms: D026881:Acupuncture; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic