24843957
OBJECTIVE	To observe the efficacy difference of electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture in the treatment of methamphetamine withdrawal syndrome .
METHODS	Ninety male patients of methamphetamine addiction were randomized into an electroacupuncture group , an auricular acupuncture group and a control group , 30 cases in each one .
METHODS	In the electroacupuncture group , Neiguan ( PC 6 ) , Shenmen ( HT 7 ) , Zusanli ( ST 36 ) , Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 ) , Jiaji ( EX-B 2 ) at T5 and L2 were selected bilaterally .
METHODS	In the auricular acupuncture group , jiaogan ( AH ( 6a ) ) , shenmen ( TF4 ) , fei ( CO14 ) and gan ( CO12 ) were selected unilaterally .
METHODS	The treatment was given 3 times a week , totally 12 treatments were required .
METHODS	In the control group , no any intervention was applied .
METHODS	Separately , before treatment and after 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 weeks treatment , the scores of methamphetamine withdrawal syndrome , Hamilton anxiety scale and Hamilton depression scale were observed in each group .
RESULTS	The total score of methamphetamine withdrawal syndrome , anxiety score and depression score were obviously reduced in 2 , 3 and 4 weeks of treatment as compared with those before treatment in the electroacupuncture group and the auricular acupuncture group ( all P < 0.05 ) , and showed a trend of gradual decline as the extension of treatment .
RESULTS	In 1,2,3,4 weeks of treatment , the total score of withdrawal syndrome , anxiety score and depression score in the electroacupuncture group and auricular acupuncture group were lower significantly than those in the control group ( all P < 0.05 ) , in which , the total score of withdrawal syndrome in the electroacupuncture group was lower significantly than that in the auricular acupuncture group in the 4th week of treatment ( 3.69 + / - 2.446 vs 5.73 + / - 3.169 , P < 0.05 ) ; the anxiety scores were lower significantly than those in the auricular acupuncture group in 3 and 4 weeks of treatment ( 8.19 + / - 4.57 vs 9.65 + / - 4.24 , 5.27 + / - 2.89 vs 7.38 + / - 3.10 , both P < 0.05 ) ; the depression scores were lower significantly than those in the auricular acupuncture group in 2 , 3 and 4 weeks of treatment ( 15.35 + / - 5.64 vs 19.81 + / - 5.37 , 10.96 + / - 4.52 vs 15.00 + / - 4.53 , 7.96 + / - 2.69 vs 12.35 + / - 3.59 , all P < 0.05 ) .
CONCLUSIONS	Electroacupuncture at the body points and auricular acupuncture play the therapeutic role in the treatment of methamphetamine withdrawal syndrome , anxiety and depression .
CONCLUSIONS	The longer time the treatment is with electroacupuncture at the body points , the more obvious the efficacy will be on the above symptoms .

