Rodrigues et al., 2019(23)
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To evaluate the effects of laser EA on the physical and emotional symptoms of patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction in comparison with the occlusive plaque. |
G1: Laser auriculotherapy (n = 20). |
G2: Control with occlusive plate (n = 20). |
In addition to improving pain in more facial regions, EA has positive effects on the function of the temporomandibular joint and on affective symptoms. |
3 |
Mafetoni et al., 2018(16)
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To assess the effectiveness of EA on anxiety in labor. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with crystals (n = 34). |
G2: Placebo with glass microspheres at different points (n = 34). G3: Control without intervention (n = 34). |
The parturients had a lower level of anxiety in the experimental group compared to the placebo and control groups. |
5 |
Ndubisi et al., 2018(17)
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To evaluate pain management using EA as an adjunct to ibuprofen and paracervical block during the first trimester of uterine aspiration and to evaluate the effect of EA on anxiety. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with semi-permanent needles and usual care (n = 52). |
G2: Placebo with adhesive tape and usual care (n = 49). G3: Control with usual care with paracervical block and ibuprofen (n = 49). |
The women in the experimental group reported substantial improvement in anxiety compared to the placebo and control groups. |
5 |
Vieira et al., 2018(11)
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To evaluate the clinical effect of EA on university students’ anxiety levels. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with semi-permanent needles (n = 25). |
G2: Placebo with auriculotherapy at different points (n = 22). G3: Control without any auricular treatment (n = 22). |
The experimental group showed a significant reduction in anxiety levels according to the applied scales. |
4 |
Dellovo et al., 2018(13)
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To compare the effects of EA and midazolam to control anxiety in patients undergoing extraction of the third molar. |
G1: 15 mg Midazolam orally and auriculotherapy (n = not described). |
G2: Placebo of oral midazolam and auriculotherapy (n = not described). |
EA showed an equivalent anxiolytic effect to midazolam without the undesirable effects related to benzodiazepines. |
2 |
Prado et al., 2018(4)
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To compare the therapeutic efficacy of true EA and Sham in a control group without intervention in treating stress identified in nurses. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with needles (n = 43). |
G2: Control without intervention (n = 47). G3: Placebo with random needles (n = 43). |
True EA was effective when compared to the control group and had faster and more effective results than the Sham group. |
3 |
Valiani et al., 2018(30)
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To investigate the impact of EA on stress, anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with electrical stimulation and seeds (n = not described). |
G2: Placebo with false stimulation and no seed fixation (n = not described). |
The stress, anxiety and depression scores decreased significantly when compared to the placebo group. |
2 |
Carter et al., 2017(28)
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To determine whether the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) protocol and traditional treatments improve quality of life, depression, anxiety and substance withdrawal. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with systemic needles and usual treatment (n = 50). |
G2: Conventional treatment control with guidelines and therapy groups (n = 50). |
The NADA group showed significant improvements in symptoms associated with depression. |
3 |
Kurebayashi et al., 2017(22)
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To evaluate the effectiveness of an auricular protocol for reducing anxiety, pain and improving quality of life in the nursing staff of a hospital. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with seeds (n = 35). G2: Auriculotherapy with semi-permanent needles (n = 34). |
G3: Control without intervention (n = 31). G4: Placebo with auriculotherapy with adhesive tape at the same points as G1/G2 (n = 33). |
The implemented protocol reduced the anxiety levels in the nursing team after 10 sessions. The group with semi-permanent needles achieved better results. |
3 |
Bergdahl et al., 2017(29)
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To evaluate the effects of EA and cognitive behavioral therapy in relation to the discontinuation of hypnotic use for symptoms of anxiety, depression and insomnia. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with systemic needles (n = 24). |
G2: Control with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (n = 25). |
Short-term reductions occurred in the EA group regarding symptoms of anxiety and depression. |
3 |
Ahlberg et al., 2016(21)
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To investigate the effectiveness of two types of EA for anxiety, sleep, alcohol and drug use and the use of addiction services. |
G1 (NADA)/G2 (Local protocol): Auriculotherapy with systemic needle (G1/G2 n = 80/80). |
G3: Control with relaxation technique (n = 80). |
No evidence was found that EA is more effective than relaxation for problems with anxiety in patients with psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. |
3 |
Bergdahl et al., 2016(26)
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To compare the effectiveness of EA treatment versus cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with systemic needles (n = 27). |
G2: Control with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (n = 32). |
Depression scores declined regarding EA, but there were no significant changes in relation to anxiety. |
3 |
Jonas et al., 2016(27)
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To determine whether two types of acupuncture (ear acupuncture and systemic acupuncture) are feasible and more effective than the usual treatment for headache related to traumatic brain injury. |
G1 (EA): Auriculotherapy with semi-permanent needles (n = 15) G2 (systemic acupuncture) (n = 14). |
G3: Conventional treatment included combined drugs. The non-drug treatment options were physical, occupational therapy and speech therapy. |
No statistically significant results were found for depression and anxiety. |
3 |
Klausenitz et al., 2016(12)
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To investigate whether EA reduces anxiety before tests compared to a placebo group or without intervention. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with semi-permanent needles (n = 12). |
G2: Placebo with random needles (n = 13). G3: Control with conversation for distraction (n = 15). |
The EA and placebo group reduced anxiety. In addition, EA had superior effects over placebo. |
3 |
Rivadeneira et al., 2015(2)
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To determine the effectiveness of EA in older adult patients suffering from anxiety compared to conventional treatment. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with seeds (n = 30). |
G2: Usual treatment with 10mg chlorodiazepoxide 3 times a day and 1 mg tifluoperacin 3 times a day (n = 30). |
EA proved to be more effective. In addition, it is a practically harmless technique with which the use of psychotropic drugs can be reduced. |
2 |
Iunes et al., 2015(20)
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To evaluate the role of EA in treating temporomandibular disorders, anxiety and electromyographic activity in university students. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with seeds (n = 40). |
G2: Placebo with seeds placed at distant points from the experimental group (n = 13). |
Anxiety and pain were significantly reduced in individuals who received EA. |
3 |
Jiao et al., 2015(24)
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To identify the ideal treatment protocol for insomnia between ear, body and abdominal needling procedures. |
G1: Systemic Acupuncture (n = 12); G2: Auriculotherapy with systemic needles (n = 12); and G3: Abdominal Acupuncture (n = 12). |
G1/G2/G3: Control without intervention in subgroups (n = 18). |
Ear acupuncture had a clear therapeutic effect on insomnia, depression and anxiety. |
2 |
Kurebayashi et al., 2015(15)
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To evaluate the effectiveness of EA for improving quality of life and reducing stress in the nursing team. |
G1 (protocol)/G2 (without protocol): EA with semi-permanent needles (G1/G2 n = 58/59). |
G3: Control without intervention (n = 58). |
Individualized auriculotherapy had a greater effect than auriculotherapy with a stress reduction protocol. |
1 |
Rodríguez-Mansilla et al., 2015(25)
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To learn about the effectiveness of auricular acupressure and massage versus control group in improving pain, anxiety and depression in people diagnosed with dementia. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with seeds (n = 40). G2: Massage with effleurage technique and deep kneading (n = 35). |
G3: Control with usual care (n = 36). |
Auricular acupressure and massage therapy showed better results than the control group in relation to anxiety and depression. A trial acupressure achieved more significant results. |
5 |
Széchenyi et al., 2015(3)
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To assess whether the EA protocol has immediate stress reduction (prolactin - PRL) and, if so, whether the effect is more significant than social support and informal support conversation. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with systemic needles (n = 22). |
G2: Control group with social support and informal conversation (n = 21). |
The stress level (PRL and conductance) can be significantly reduced using the NADA protocol. |
1 |
Kurebayashi et al., 2014(1)
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To identify the main diagnoses of TCM based on the analysis of the symptoms from the Stress Symptoms List which best responded to auriculotherapy treatment. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with semi-permanent needles (n = 27). G2: Auriculotherapy with seeds (n = 26). |
G3: Control without intervention (n = 22). |
Better results were found for needles than for seeds. |
3 |
Kurebayashi et al., 2014(14)
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To evaluate the effectiveness of EA with and without a protocol for reducing the stress levels of the nursing team. |
G1 (protocol)/G2 (without protocol): Auriculotherapy with semi-permanent needles (G1/G2 n = 58/59). |
G3: Control without intervention (n = 58). |
EA with and without protocol was effective in reducing stress levels. But the scope of the technique was extended without a protocol. |
3 |
Gagliardi et al., 2014(19)
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To evaluate the sedative-anxiolytic effect of EA in health professionals by comparing the effect of real and fake needles. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with semi-permanent needles (n = not described). |
G2: Placebo with false needles (n = not described). |
Auriculotherapy had a significant effect on the volunteer’s state-anxiety compared with the placebo group. |
0 |
Hadad-Rodrigues et al., 2013(18)
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To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture versus placebo acupuncture in the anxiety of nursing mothers with preterm and low birth weight babies. |
G1: Auriculotherapy with semi-permanent needles (n = 14). |
G2: Placebo with customized needles which did not pierce the skin. |
There was no difference between the acupuncture and placebo acupuncture groups for anxiety in mothers with preterm babies. However, there were statistically significant improvements for anxiety in the group analyzes. |
5 |