title: Acupuncture and relaxation response for craving and anxiety reduction among military veterans in recovery from substance use disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Substance use disorder (SUD) is a major health issue, especially among military veterans. We previously reported the effects of auricular acupuncture and the relaxation response (RR) on reducing craving and anxiety following 10-week interventions among veterans who were in recovery from SUDs. Our current analysis examines effects following each intervention session and RR daily practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a three-arm randomized controlled trial on residents of a homeless veteran rehabilitation program. Sixty-Seven enroled participants were randomly assigned to acupuncture (n=23), RR (n=23), or usual care (n=21). Participants in the two intervention groups rated their degree of craving for substance on a scale of 1-10 and anxiety levels on a scale of 1-4 (total score 20-80) before and after each intervention session. Mixed effects regression models were used for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Craving and anxiety levels decreased significantly following one session of acupuncture (-1.04, p=.0001; -8.83, p<.0001) or RR intervention (-.43, p=.02; -4.64, p=.03). The level of craving continued to drop with additional intervention sessions (regression coefficient b=-.10, p=.01, and b=-.10, p=.02 for acupuncture and RR groups, respectively). Number of daily practice days of RR-eliciting techniques is also associated with reduction in craving ratings (b=-.02, p=.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings demonstrate the value of attending regular acupuncture and RR-eliciting intervention sessions, as well as the daily practice of RR-eliciting techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substance addiction is a complex disease and effective treatment remains a challenge. Our study findings add to the scientific evidence of these two non-pharmaceutical approaches for SUD.
authors.affiliation: VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Bei-Hung
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sommers
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D066249:Craving; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*