Table 4.
Characteristics of Randomized Controlled Trials outside Meta-Analysis
| Lead author, year & ref. # | Comparisons | Main findings |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture versus sham acupuncture | ||
| Lautenschlager J 198926 | Acupuncture versus sham laser acupuncture | Significant difference between acupuncture and sham treatment in pain reduction measured by all 3 methods by end of treatment. At follow-up of 3 months after last treatment, no significant changes were observed (p > 0.05). |
| Sprott H 199833 | Acupuncture versus sham laser acupuncture | Data for pain reduction by tender points were not completely reported, but # of tender points was not significantly decreased after acupuncture treatment, compared to sham treatment (p > 0.05). Intensity of pain, measured by VAS, was not significantly reduced, neither immediately at end of treatment or 2 months after treatment (p > 0.05). |
| Acupuncture versus no treatment | ||
| Sprott H 199833 | Acupuncture versus no treatment | # of tender points was significantly decreased after acupuncture treatment, compared to no treatment (p > 0.05). |
| Acupuncture versusconventional medication | ||
| Zhang YG 200138 | Acupuncture versus amitriptyline | No significant difference in total effective rate between the two groups (88.2% versus 83.3%; p > 0.05), but at follow-up at 6 months after end of the treatment, the total effective rate in the acupuncture group was higher than in the amitriptyline group (67.6% versus 40.0%; p < 0.05). |
| Acupuncture + other interventions versus other interventions | ||
| Targino RA 200834 | Acupuncture plus tricyclic antidepressants and exercise with tricyclic antidepressants and exercise | Patients in acupuncture group were significantly better than the control group in terms of VAS scores (p < 0.001), PPT (p < 0.001), # of tender points below 4 kg/cm2 (p < 0.001), and in 5 subscales of the SF-36 (p < 0.05). |
| Massage versus no treatment | ||
| Brattberg G 199917 | Connective tissue massage versus no treatment or discussion | No significant difference between connective tissue massage and no treatment for reducing pain according to VAS scores after treatment (MD, –0.58; 95% CI, –1.76 to 0.60; p = 0.34). |
| Herbal medicine versus conventional medications | ||
| Fu HW 200620 | Shugan Jieyu Huoxue Tongluo decoction versus amitriptyline | Herbal decoction superior to amitriptyline for reducing depression according to HAMD after treatment (MD, –3.70; 95% CI, –6.09 to –1.31; p = 0.002) |
| Guo GM 200721 | Total flavones of Rhizoma Drynariae versus meloxicam | No difference between two groups in pain reduction according to VAS scores after treatment (MD, –0.80; 95% CI, –1.66 to 0.06; p > 0.05). |
| Total flavones of Rhizoma Drynariae versus meloxicam and amitriptyline | No difference between two groups on pain reduction according to VAS scores after treatment (MD, –0.10; 95% CI, –0.87 to 0.64; p > 0.05). | |
| Liu JZ 200230 | Zhengqing Fengtong Ning tablet versus doxepin | According to category outcome measurement, herbal medicine was significantly better than doxepin (91.2% versus 76.7%; p < 0.05) in total effective rate (markedly effective plus effective rate). |
| Yang HB 200836 | Xiaoyao Qianghuo Chushi decoction versus indometacin and carbamazepine | In terms of total effective rate, herbal medicine produced a better effect than conventional medication (94.74% versus 86.84%; p < 0.05). |
| Yang TG 200737 | Jiawei Xiaoyao powder versus amitriptyline and ibuprofen sustained release capsules | Therapeutic effect (MD, –1.89; 95% CI, –2.62 to –1.16; p < 0.05) and reduction of symptoms (90.9% versus 64.7%; p < 0.05) in the treatment group were more marked than in the control group. |
| Herbal medicine + other interventions versus other interventions | ||
| Guo GM 200721 | Total flavones of Rhizoma Drynariae and amitriptyline versus meloxicam and amitriptyline | Significant difference between two groups in pain reduction according to VAS scores after treatment (MD, –2.00; 95% CI, –2.69 to –1.31; p < 0.05). |
| Meloxicam, total flavones of Rhizoma Drynariae and amitriptyline versus meloxicam and amitriptyline | Significant difference between two groups in pain reduction according to VAS scores after treatment (MD, –1.10; 95% CI, –1.83 to –0.37; p < 0.01). | |
| Jiang F 200425 | QoL | According to change of VAS scores, HAMD, and SCL-90, herbal medicine combined with conventional medications was significantly better than conventional medications alone for reducing pain and improving QoL for patients with FM (p < 0.05). |
| Combination of acupuncture and other TCM therapies versus conventional medications | ||
| Fu XY 2004a | Acupuncture + cupping therapy versus amitriptyline | Combination of acupuncture + cupping therapy was significantly better than conventional medications for reducing VAS scores (MD = –1.96; 95% CI, –2.91 to –1.01; p < 0.0001) and HAMD scores (MD, –3.99; 95% CI –5.47 to 2.51; p < 0.00001). |
| Li AL 200427 | Ding Tong decoction plus acupuncture and psychologic therapy with amitriptyline and psychologic therapy | According to the scores of self-rating evaluation of reduction of symptoms and calculation of pain intensive and # of tender points, there were no significant differences between two groups (p > 0.05). |
| Li J 200529 | Acupuncture and computer intermediate frequency (electromagnetic wave) treatment versus amitriptyline, with psychologic therapy in both groups. | No significant difference between two groups in total effective rate (<3 scores on a 10-point VAS scale, or symptoms disappeared or markedly relieved, or # of tender points decreased > 6 points; 95.65% versus 95.65%; p > 0.05). |
| Wang CM 200835 | Acupuncture plus laser radiation versus amitriptyline | According to VAS scores after treatment, acupuncture + laser radiation were significantly better than amitriptyline for pain reduction (MD = –2.27; 95% CI, –3.05 to –1.49; p < 0.00001). |
a
Fu XY, Li CD. Clinical randomized controlled trial on combination of acupuncture, cupping and medicine for treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome [dissertation for Master's degree from Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China]. 2004.
VAS, visual analogue scale; PPT, pressure pain threshold; SF-36, Short Form–36; MD, mean difference; CI, confidence interval; HAMD, Hamilton Depression Scale; SCL-90, symptom checklist 90; QoL, quality of life; FM, fibromyalgia; TCM, Traditional Chinese Medicine.