Acupuncture reduced frequency and pain intensity of primary migraine or tension-type headaches
S N Willich
Dr S N Willich, Charité University Medical Centre, Berlin, Germany; stefan.willich@charite.de
QUESTION
In patients with primary headache, does acupuncture plus routine care improve outcomes more than routine care alone?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial (Acupuncture in Routine Care study).
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
unblinded.
Follow-up period:
3 and 6 months.
Setting:
primary care setting in Germany.
Patients:
3404 patients ⩾18 years of age (mean age 44 y, 77% women based on 3182 patients) who had primary headache (headaches for >12 mo and ⩾2 headaches/mo). Patients with headache caused by somatic diseases (eg, hypertension, meningioma, or meningoencephalitis) were excluded.
Intervention:
immediate needle acupuncture administered in ⩽15 sessions …
