Peer-reviewedCC BYCurrent oncology (Toronto, Ont.)19 Oct 2026

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

Ting Xu¹
Yanqiu Rao¹
Qi Cao¹
Yalin Yue¹

¹Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200090, China.

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.

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BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{xu2026electroacupuncture,
  title = {{Electroacupuncture Combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Alleviates Insomnia-Anxiety Comorbidity in Gynecological Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.}},
  author = {Ting Xu and Yanqiu Rao and Qi Cao and Yalin Yue},
  journal = {Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.)},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/curroncol33100628},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930195},
  note = {CC BY},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Electroacupuncture Combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Alleviates Insomnia-Anxiety Comorbidity in Gynecological Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
AU  - Ting Xu
AU  - Yanqiu Rao
AU  - Qi Cao
AU  - Yalin Yue
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/19
JO  - Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.)
DO  - 10.3390/curroncol33100628
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930195
AB  - 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.
SN  - 1198-0052
SN  - 1718-7729
ER  -

Abstract

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