title: The effects of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this manuscript is to determine and to compare the efficacy of real acupuncture with sham acupuncture on fibromyalgia (FM) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 women with FM were randomized into 2 groups to receive either true acupuncture or sham acupuncture. Subjects were evaluated with VAS (at night, at rest, during activity), SF-36, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Beck Depression scale (BDI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) at baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the 1st session. Patients in both groups received 3 sessions in the 1st week, 2 sessions/week during 2 weeks and 1 session/week in the following 5 weeks (totally 12 sessions).
  
  
  RESULTS
  25 subjects with a mean age of 47,28±7,86 years were enrolled in true acupuncture group and 25 subjects with a mean age of 43,60±8,18 years were enrolled in sham acupuncture group. Both groups improved significantly in all parameters 1 month after the 1st session and this improvement persisted 2 months after the 1st session (p<0,05). However, real acupuncture group had better scores than sham acupuncture score in terms of all VAS scores, BDI and FIQ scores either 1 or 2 months after the 1st session (all p<0,05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture significantly improved pain and symptoms of FM. Although sham effect was important, real acupuncture treatment seems to be effective in treatment of FM.
authors.affiliation: Yıldırım Beyazıt University Medical School.
authors.forename: Fatma Gülçin
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Uğurlu
authors.affiliation: Yıldırım Beyazıt University Medical School.
authors.forename: Nebahat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sezer
authors.affiliation: Yıldırım Beyazıt University Medical School.
authors.forename: Lale
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aktekin
authors.affiliation: Yıldırım Beyazıt University Medical School.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fidan
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Military Medical Academy.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tok
authors.affiliation: Yıldırım Beyazıt University Medical School.
authors.forename: Selami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akkuş
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome