Table 1.
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristics | Group | All patients (n = 120) | Statistics value | P valuea, b | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA + CBZ (n = 30) | SEA + CBZ (n = 30) | EA + P (n = 30) | SEA + P (n = 30) | ||||
| Sex, n (%) b | χ2 = 3.520 | 0.318 | |||||
| Male | 15 (50.0) | 11 (36.7) | 8 (26.7) | 11 (36.7) | 45 (37.5) | ||
| Female | 15 (50.0) | 19 (63.3) | 22 (73.3) | 19 (63.3) | 75 (62.5) | ||
| Age, mean (SD), yearsa | 58.7 (13.1) | 54.2 (18.8) | 60.0 (13.9) | 60.9 (14.9) | 58.5 (15.3) | F = 1.134 | 0.338 |
| Duration of illness, M (P25, P75), Mon a | 25.5 (11.3,48.0) | 12.0 (2.0,36.0) | 24.0 (2.0,61.3) | 33.0 (11.0,60.0) | 24.0 (7.0,48.0) | χ2 = 4.667 | 0.198 |
| Pattern of pain attack, n (%)b | χ2 = 0.001 | 1.000 | |||||
| Purely paroxysmal | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 114 | ||
| With CCP | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||
| Side of pain attack, n (%)b | χ2 = 0.733 | 0.866 | |||||
| Left | 12 (40.0) | 11 (36.7) | 9 (30.0) | 10 (33.3) | 42 (35.0) | ||
| Right | 18 (60.0) | 19 (63.3) | 21 (70.0) | 20 (66.7) | 78 (65.0) | ||
| Localization of pain attack, n (%)b | χ2 = 9.154 | 0.171 | |||||
| The 1st trigeminal division (Ophthalmic branch) | 9 (30.0) | 5 (16.7) | 12 (40.0) | 6 (20.0) | 32 (26.7) | ||
| The 2nd trigeminal division (Maxillary branch) | 8 (26.7) | 15 (50.0) | 6 (20.0) | 10 (33.3) | 39 (32.5) | ||
| The 3rd trigeminal division (Mandibular branch) | 13 (43.3) | 10 (33.3) | 12 (40.0) | 14 (46.7) | 49(40.8) | ||
| Emotional impact, n (%)b, c | χ2 = 1.905 | 0.592 | |||||
| Yes | 19 (63.3) | 17 (56.7) | 22 (73.3) | 20 (66.7) | 78 (65.0) | ||
| No | 11 (36.7) | 13 (43.3) | 8 (26.7) | 10 (33.3) | 42 (35.0) | ||
| Previous treatment for TN, n (%)b,d | χ2 = 4.907 | 0.842 | |||||
| Acupuncture | 14 (66.7) | 12 (75.0) | 15 (65.2) | 18 (72.0) | 59 (69.4) | ||
| Analgesics | 3 (14.3) | 1 (6.3) | 1 (4.3) | 2 (8.0) | 7 (8.2) | ||
| Acupuncture plus analgesic | 4 (19.0) | 2 (12.5) | 6 (26.1) | 3 (12.0) | 15 (17.6) | ||
| Others (including surgery, etc.) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (6.3) | 1 (4.3) | 2 (8.0) | 4 (4.7) | ||
| Satisfaction with previous treatment, n (%)b | 5 (23.8) | 2 (12.5) | 3 (13.0) | 5 (20.0) | 15 (17.9) | χ2 = 1.271 | 0.736 |
| Expectations of acupuncture for diseases, n (%)b | χ2 = 4.593 | 0.597 | |||||
| Effective | 6 (20.0) | 7 (23.3) | 10 (33.3) | 7 (23.3) | 30 (25.0) | ||
| Invalid | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.3) | 1 (0.8) | ||
| Uncertain | 24 (80.0) | 23 (76.7) | 20 (66.7) | 22 (73.3) | 89 (74.2) | ||
| Expectations of acupuncture for TN, n (%)b | χ2 = 8.364 | 0.213 | |||||
| Effective | 8 (26.7) | 8 (26.7) | 11 (36.7) | 15 (50.0) | 42 (35.0) | ||
| Invalid | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.3) | 1 (0.8) | ||
| Uncertain | 22 (73.3) | 22 (73.3) | 19 (63.3) | 14 (46.7) | 77 (64.2) | ||
| The mean of VAS scoree | 6.3 (1.1) | 6.5 (1.2) | 6.3 (1.0) | 6.0 (1.1) | NA | F = 0.038 | 0.846 |
| The total number of pain attacksf | 199.8 (133.6) | 230.5 (210.0) | 161.8 (79.5) | 225.0 (211.5) | NA | F = 2.067 | 0.153 |
aContinuous data are expressed as mean (SD) and examined using t test
bCategorical data were examined using Chi-square or Fisher Exact test
cPatients with TN accompanied by emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression
dPrevious treatment for TN from onset to 1 month pre-enrollment
eThe mean daily of VAS score was recorded as the average of pain intensity in the past 24 h
fThe total number of pain attacks was calculated by summing the number of pain attacks in the past two weeks prior to the every assessment time-point
Abbreviations: TN trigeminal neuralgia, SD standard deviation; M medium, CCP concomitant continuous pain, NA not applicable, EA + CBZ electroacupuncture plus carbarmazepine (at the dosage of 300 mg/day), SEA + CBZ sham electroacupuncture plus carbarmazepine (at the dosage of 300 mg/day), EA + P electroacupuncture plus placebo, SEA + P sham electroacupuncture plus placebo