Table 3 Characteristics of included RCTs investigating the effect of acupuncture on alcohol dependence

Bullock (1987)

USA [23]

N = 54 (males)

Inpatients

≥20 admissions

Previous treatment failure

No identifiable support/group

No full-time employment ≥6 months

2-arms; (B); (A)

AA + A

Phase 1

daily

(5 days)

Phase 2

3 weekly

(28 days)

Phase 3

2 weekly (45 days)

Ear Lung, Shenmen, and either Liver, Kidney or occiput; LI4, SJ5. No manual or electro-stimulation

Non-specific ear points at “5 mml or less” from specific points

(1) Need for alcohol

(2) Drinking

episodes

(3) Detox

admissions

(4) Craving

(5) Completion rates

(1) p 0.003

(2) p 0.0076

(3) p 0.03

(4) p 0.015

(5) p 0.01

NR

Worner (1992)

USA [12]

N = 56 (49 male)

Outpatients

Drinking within 10 days

3-arms; (B); (B)

AA + A

3 per week (3 months)

Ear Lung, Shenmen; LV3, ST36, SJ5, LI4, GV20

(1) Sham “transdermal stimulation” (electrocardiogram pads fixed to both forearms and to one lower leg), and TAU

(2) TAU

(1) Completion rates

(2) Relapse rates

No observed effects; p > 0.05

NR

Toteva (1996)

Bulgaria [15]

N = 118 (103 male)

Outpatients

DSM-IV

Abstinence from alcohol ≥10 days

2-arms; (B); (C)

A

Daily (12–15 sessions)

Five of six points drawn from: LI4, LI11, PC6, SJ5, SI4, GB8, GB14, HT7, Taiyang, Yintang

TAU

(1) Craving

(2) Depressive symptoms

(3) Participation in psychotherapeutic programs

(4) Reduction in tremor

(5) Remission rate

(1) p < 0.001

(2) p < 0.001

(3) p < 0.001

(4) p < 0.001

(5) p < 0.001

NR

Rampes (1997)

England [10]

N = 59 (46 male)

Outpatients

DSM-III-R

3-arms; (A); (A)

AEA; square-wave continuous electric current of 100 Hz frequency

Weekly (6 weeks)

Ear Lung (AEA), Shenmen, Sympathetic Tone

(1) Knee 2, Internal Secretion (AEA), Elbow; and TAU

(2) TAU

(1) Craving (VAS)

(2) Units of alcohol

(3) Breathalyser

(4) Anxiety

(5) Completion rates

(1) p 0.64

(2) p 0.69

(3) NS

(4) p 0.16

(5) p 0.49 [vs Group 2]

Drowsiness, transient bleeding on removal of needles for 1 participant

Sapir-Weise (1999)

Sweden [16]

N = 72 (51 male)

Outpatients

DSM-III-R

2-arms; (A); (A)

AA

Phase 1

5 weekly (2 weeks)

Phase 2

3 weekly

(4 weeks)

Phase 3

2 weekly (4 weeks)

Ear Lung, Shenmen, Sympathetic;

and TAU

AA non-specific 3–5 mm from specific points; and TAU

(1) Successful drinking pattern

(2) Craving

(3) Completion rates

(1) NS

(2) NS

(3) p 0.071

NR

Bullock (2002)

USA [13]

N = 503 (253 male)

Inpatients

DSM-IV

Anticipated stay

≥ 14 days

4-arms; (B); (A)

AA

Daily (excluding Sundays) for 3 weeks

Ear Liver, Lung, Shenmen, Sympathetic; TAU

(1) Symptom based, “acupuncturists were not constrained”; TAU

(2) AA non-specific “within 5 mm” of specific points, TAU

(3) TAU

(1) Craving (Likert Scale)

(2) Completion rates

(1) p 0.024 (comparison of interventions)

(2) p 0.06

NR

Karst (2002)

Germany [20]

N = 34 (30 male)

Inpatients

ICD-10

2-arms; (B); (A)

AA + A

Daily (10 consecutive days)

Ear Kidney, Liver, Lung, Shenmen, Sympathetic; GV20, Extra 1, LI4; TAU

Sham acupuncture (Streitberger needle) at same specific points, TAU

(1) CIWA-Ar-Scale

(2) BDI

(3) EWL 60S

(4) STAI

(1) p 0.045

(2) p 0.157

(3) NS

(4) p 0.544

NR

Trümpler (2003)

Switzerland [11]

N = 48 (28 male)

Inpatients

DSM-IV

3-arms; (B); (C)

AA

Daily (until end of withdrawal)

Needling “at ear points considered appropriate”; TAU

(1) Low level laser, TAU

(2) Sham laser, TAU

(1) Duration of withdrawal

(2) Duration of sedative prescription

(1) p 0.44 [vs Group 2]

(2) NS

No local-side effects to acupuncture interventions

Kim (2005) Korea [14]

N = 22 (males)

Inpatients

Alcohol dependents

2-arms; (B); (A)

A

2 weekly (4 weeks)

Zùbin (K9)

Sham acupuncture (Park needle) at specific point

Craving (VAS)

p < 0.05

NR

Kunz (2007)

Germany [19]

N = 109 (89 male)

Inpatients

ICD-10

2-arms; (B); (C)

AA

Daily (5 consecutive days)

Ear Kidney, Liver, Lung, Shenmen, Sympathetic; TAU

Aromatherapy, TAU

(1) AWS

(2) Craving (VAS)

(1) NS

(2) NS

Intervention: pain, mild bleeding, agitation; Control: negative thoughts, sore throat

Li (2009)

China [24]

N = 100 (males)

Inpatients

CCMD-3

2-arms; (B); (B)

EA at a low frequency

Daily (for 6 weeks)

ST36

Nutritional supplement

TAU, nutritional supplement

(1) AWS

(2) Relapse rate

(1) NS

(2) p < 0.01

NR

Yao (2009)

China [21]

N = 39 (males)

Inpatients

DSM-IV

2-arms; (B); (B)

A

Daily (5 consecutive days = 1 course) Total 1–3 courses

Sanyinjiao (SP-6), ST36, Insomnia

TAU, vitamins, antibiotics

(1) AWS

(2) Clinical symptoms

(1) p < 0.05

(2) NR

Drowsiness for both groups, 1 control “addiction” to Western medicine

Zhang (2010)

China [22]

N = 64 (males)

Inpatients

CCMD-3-R,

HAMD-17

2-arms; (B); (B)

EA at a low frequency

Daily (for 4 weeks)

Baihui (DU20), Yingtang

Sham electro-acupuncture near specific points

(1) SCL-90

(2) HAM-D

(3) HAM-A

(1) p < 0.05

(2) p < 0.05

(3) p < 0.05

NR

Lee (2015)

Korea [18]

N = 20 (males)

Inpatients

DSM-IV

2-arms; (B); (A)

A

Twice a week (4 weeks)

Zùbin (KI9)

Sham acupuncture (Park needle) at specific point

Craving (VAS)

p < 0.01

NR

Tong (2015)

China [17]

N = 80 (males)

ICD-10

2-arms; (B); (B)

A, herbal medicine

Every other day (for 12 weeks)

Baihui

TAU

SF-36

p < 0.05

NR