title: Effect of Zhubin (KI9) acupuncture in reducing alcohol craving in patients with alcohol dependence: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of acupuncture on Zhubin (KI9) in reducing alcohol craving in alcohol-dependent patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty male alcohol-dependent patients were randomly assigned to two groups, a treatment group (10 cases, age 43.0±6.8 years) and a placebo group (10 cases, age 44.5±7.9 years). The treatment group was treated with real needle acupuncture on Zhubin (KI9) twice a week for 4 weeks, and the control group was treated with placebo needle acupuncture. Both groups were given acupuncture treatment using Park Sham Device (PSD). Alcohol craving was measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before treatment to establish a baseline, and after 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine the main and interaction effects of time and on the outcome measure (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant effect of time on VAS score (df=3, F=13.3, P<0.01). Main effect of group on VAS score was significant (df=1, F=10.9, P<0.01) and the time×group interaction was also significant (df=3, F=4.7, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Real-needle acupuncture therapy on Zhubin (KI9) showed effectiveness in reducing alcohol craving. These results strongly suggest the usefulness of acupuncture therapy on Zhubin (KI9) in preventing a relapse in alcohol dependent patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, 626-770, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Seong
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Gon
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Taek-Geun
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Woo Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Seong-Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy*; D066249:Craving / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D000431:Ethanol