Efficacy of electroacupuncture for cervical spondylosis-related pain in patients with generalized anxiety disorder

BACKGROUND Cervical spondylosis (CS) frequently co-occurs with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), presenting a complex clinical challenge. Managing CS-related pain in patients with GAD is particularly challenging because of the bidirectional relationship between pain and anxiety, necessitating integrated treatment strategies. AIM To evaluate the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in treating CS-related pain and anxiety in patients with GAD. METHODS This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 83 patients with CS-related pain and GAD who received EA treatment over 2-year period. Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analog scale, and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Additionally, neuroinflammatory markers, including interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, were examined. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks of treatment. RESULTS EA treatment significantly reduced CS-related pain (mean visual analog scale reduction: 3.24 ± 1.18; P < 0.001) and improved anxiety symptoms (mean Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale reduction: 7.83 ± 2.65; P < 0.001) after 8 weeks of treatment. Neuroinflammatory markers also showed significant reductions, with interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels decreasing by 32.7% and 28.5%, respectively (P < 0.01). Pain reduction was significantly correlated with improvements in anxiety symptoms (r = 0.68; P < 0.001) and a decrease in inflammatory markers (r = 0.54; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION EA demonstrates significant efficacy in reducing CS-related pain in patients with comorbid GAD, along with concurrent improvements in anxiety symptoms and neuroinflammatory profiles. These findings suggest that EA may offer a valuable integrative approach for managing this complex clinical presentation, potentially addressing both pain and anxiety through the modulation of neuroinflammatory pathways.