Electroacupuncture Combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Alleviates Insomnia-Anxiety Comorbidity in Gynecological Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Authors

Ting Xu, Yanqiu Rao, Qi Cao, Yalin Yue

Published in

Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.). Volume 33. Issue 10. Oct 19, 2026. Epub Oct 19, 2026.

Abstract

Insomnia and anxiety affect many gynecological cancer patients on chemotherapy, and non-pharmacological options are limited. This randomized trial examined whether adding electroacupuncture (EA) to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) improves both conditions. Seventy-six patients received EA + CBT-I or sham EA + CBT-I for 4 weeks. Outcomes included sleep quality (PSQI), insomnia severity (AIS), anxiety (HAMA), objective sleep parameters, and overall response rate. At Week 4, the EA group showed a greater reduction in PSQI global score (mean difference in change from baseline: -3.11, 95% CI: -4.11 to -2.11, p < 0.001). More patients in the EA group achieved AIS ≤ 6 (71.1% vs. 42.1%, p = 0.010) and HAMA ≤ 14 (92.1% vs. 65.8%, p = 0.005). Deep sleep (p = 0.001), REM sleep (p = 0.045), and sleep score (p = 0.008) also increased more with EA group. The overall response rate was higher with EA (92.1% vs. 71.1%, p = 0.016). No serious adverse events occurred. These findings suggest that adding EA to CBT-I improves sleep and anxiety in this population, with a favorable safety profile.

PMID:
42930195
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 26 Oct 2026.

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