title: Needle Sensation and Personality Factors Influence Therapeutic Effect of Acupuncture for Treating Bell's Palsy: A Secondary Analysis of a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has not been solved what kind of needle sensation might influence outcomes of acupuncture treatment. Effects of personality factors on the therapeutic effect of acupuncture have not been investigated. This study aimed to find the effects of the traits of personality on the objective outcome when different acupuncture techniques were used in treating patients with Bell's palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial of acupuncture for Bell's palsy. Patients were randomly assigned to the de qi and control groups, respectively. The primary outcome was facial nerve function at month 6. The intensity of each needle sensation was rated by a visual analog scale. Psychosocial factors were assessed by the pretreatment mediator questionnaire; 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) was used for assessing personality factors and digit cancellation test for assessing attention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 6 months, patients in the de qi group had better facial function (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 4.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.23-7.78). Path analysis showed that intensity of needle sensation of fullness had direct effect on House-Brackmann (HB) score at month 6. In de qi group, the low HB score on day 1 (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03-0.45) and the low Social Boldness score (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.41-0.97) in 16PF were associated with better facial function. In control group, low HB score on day 1 (OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.13-0.50), low Vigilance score (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.50-0.88), and high Tension score (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.12-1.77) in 16PF were related to better facial function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The needle sensation of fullness could predict better facial function and personality traits might influence outcomes of acupuncture treatment. Both of them should be considered seriously in acupuncture treatment and research.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China.
authors.forename: Chen-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
authors.forename: Sha-Bei
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xiangyang Hospital Affiliated to Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei 441000, China.
authors.forename: Gui-Bin
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Ying
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
authors.forename: Min-Jie
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China.
authors.forename: Zong-Kui
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030; Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010556:Personality Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult