Trial reportPloS one2018
Effects of single-point acupuncture (HT7) in the prevention of test anxiety: Results of a RCT.
Trial report in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed.
- Open-label placebos enhance test performance and reduce anxiety in learner drivers: a randomized controlled trial.Scientific reports · 2024Trial
- Acupuncture in persons with an increased stress level-Results from a randomized-controlled pilot trial.PloS one · 2020Trial
- Open-label placebos reduce test anxiety and improve self-management skills: A randomized-controlled trial.Scientific reports · 2019Trial
- Pharmacopuncture for patients with psychological stress caused by traffic accidents: A pragmatic randomized controlled pilot trial.Integrative medicine research · 2026Article
- The effect of stepwise acupuncture on cognition, insomnia, and tremors after traumatic brain injury: a case report.Journal of medical case reports · 2025Article
- Regulation of autonomic nervous system by acupuncture: a heart rate variability study on physical stress.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2025Article
- The Involvement of the Ventral Tegmental Area in the Electroacupuncture Alleviation of Anxiety-Like Behaviors Induced by Chronic Restraint Stress in Mice.Neurochemical research · 2024Article
- The Role of Acupuncture in Treating a Patient with a Gambling Disorder.Medical acupuncture · 2022Article
- Clinical Events Associated with Acupuncture Intervention for the Treatment of Chronic Inflammation Associated Disorders.Mediators of inflammation · 2020Review
- Acupuncture Improves Comorbid Cognitive Impairments Induced by Neuropathic Pain in Mice.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe number of students using neuro enhancement to improve their performance and to prevent test anxiety is increasing. The acupuncture point Heart 7 (HT7) has been described as being prominent in reducing states of anxiety.
methodsWe conducted a randomized placebo-controlled, two-armed pilot trial to investigate the efficacy of a single-point acupuncture treatment at bilateral HT7 compared to sham laser acupuncture on test anxiety. Test anxiety was induced applying the standardised protocol of the Trier Social Stress Test. Outcome measures included saliva samples analysed for cortisol and amylase, anxiety questionnaires and heart rate variability.
resultsTwenty-five male subjects (age 28 ± 5 years) were allocated to either verum acupuncture (n = 12) or sham laser acupuncture (n = 13). Cortisol peaked 20 min after the stress test (2-fold, 18.11 ± 2 nmol/l) and amylase 10 min after (2-fold, 259 ± 49 U/ml) with no difference between groups. There were no differences between groups regarding either anxiety questionnaires or physiological parameters. Compared to reference data (3-fold increase in cortisol), increase in stress hormones and heart rate seemed somewhat reduced.
conclusionsAcupuncture may be a possible approach for the treatment of anxiety. Due to the lack of a no control treatment group, we cannot determine the magnitude of possible specific needle effects at HT7 to promote specific effects in the neuroendocrine system. Finally this study only examines the efficacy of a single time treatment.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.