title: Sham acupuncture is as efficacious as true acupuncture for the treatment of IBS: A randomized placebo controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients increasingly seek out acupuncture therapy to alleviate symptoms, but it is unclear whether the benefit is due to a treatment-specific effect or a placebo response. This study examined whether true acupuncture is superior to sham acupuncture in relieving IBS symptoms and whether benefits were linked to purported acupuncture mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double blind sham controlled acupuncture study was conducted with Rome I IBS patients receiving twice weekly true acupuncture for 4 weeks (n=43) or sham acupuncture (n=36). Patients returned at 12 weeks for a follow-up review. The primary endpoint of success as determined by whether patients met or exceeded their established goal for percentage symptom improvement. Questionnaires were completed for symptom severity scores, SF-36 and IBS-36 QOL tools, McGill pain score, and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. A subset of patients underwent barostat measurements of rectal sensation at baseline and 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 53% in the true acupuncture group met their criteria for a successful treatment intervention, but this did not differ significantly from the sham group (42%). IBS symptom scores similarly improved in both groups. Scores also improved in the IBS-36, SF-36, and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, but did not differ between groups. Rectal sensory thresholds were increased in both groups following treatment and pain scores decreased; however, these changes were similar between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of differences in symptom outcomes between sham and true treatment acupuncture suggests that acupuncture does not have a specific treatment effect in IBS.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit (GIDRU), Kingston General Hospital, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aiken
authors.affiliation: Biostatician, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit (GIDRU), Kingston General Hospital, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Depew
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit (GIDRU), Kingston General Hospital, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Vanner
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos
keywords: acupuncture; irritable bowel syndrome; pain; psychological scores; sleep