Acupuncture for Patients With Chronic Tension-Type Headache

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Whether acupuncture is effective for chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) is inconclusive. We aimed to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture with a follow-up period of 32 weeks. METHODS: sensation at each acupuncture site. The main outcome was the responder rate at 16 weeks after randomization (week 16) and was followed up at week 32. A responder was defined as a participant who reported at least a 50% reduction in the monthly number of headache days (MHDs). Four mild adverse events were reported; 3 in the TA group vs 1in the SA group. DISCUSSION: The 8-week TA treatment was effective for the prophylaxis of CTTH. Further studies might focus on the cost-effectiveness of the treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03133884 (clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03133884). CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class I evidence that acupuncture (achieving deqi sensation) reduces the mean headache days (per month) in patients with CTTH.