The Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Depression-Related Insomnia: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Hantong Hu; Zengtu Li; Yingying Cheng; Hong Gao

doi:10.2147/JPR.S370476

The Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Depression-Related Insomnia: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

J Pain Res. 2022 Jul 13:15:1939-1947. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S370476. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Hantong Hu^#^{1

2}, Zengtu Li^#³, Yingying Cheng^#^{1

2}, Hong Gao^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou City, People's Republic of China.
² Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, the Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou City, People's Republic of China.
³ Department of Massage, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou City, People's Republic of China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: There is a bidirectional relationship between depression and insomnia. Depression-related insomnia is common and remains a challenging medical condition. Although acupuncture might be a potential treatment option and increasing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have emerged, currently available evidence regarding the effect and safety of acupuncture on depression-related insomnia remains inconclusive. Thus, this protocol aims to systematically synthesize the evidence about the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for depression-related insomnia.

Methods and analysis: Eligible RCTs will be searched in nine representative databases and pooled in meta-analyses using RevMan 5.3. The methodological quality of included studies will be rated by Cochrane's risk of bias 2.0 tool. The quality of evidence will be appraised using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analyses, and publication bias will also be conducted.

Discussion: This protocol outlines the planned scope and methodology for an upcoming systematic review meta-analysis, which will critically synthesize the evidence about the efficacy and safety of acupuncture on depression-related insomnia. Findings will shed light on fulfilling evidence gaps and influence evidence-based treatment decisions for clinicians in the treatment of depression-related insomnia.

Keywords: acupuncture; depression-related insomnia; meta-analysis; systematic review.

Grants and funding

The work was supported by the 2021 Special Project for Modernization of Chinese Medicine in Zhejiang Province (NO.2021ZX010) and Zhejiang Provincial Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Experts Inheritance Studio Construction Project (grant no.GZS2021027).