Lembo, AnthonyConboy, LisaKelley, JohnSchnyer, Rosa SMcManus, Claire AQuilty, Mary TKerr, CatherineDrossman, DougJacobson, EricDavis, RogerKaptchuk, Ted2018-04-162009Lembo, Anthony J, Lisa Conboy, John M Kelley, Rosa S Schnyer, Claire A McManus, Mary T Quilty, Catherine E Kerr, et al. 2009. A Treatment Trial of Acupuncture in IBS Patients. The American Journal of Gastroenterology 104, no. 6: 1489–1497. doi:10.1038/ajg.2009.156.0002-9270http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:35859648Objective: To compare the effects of true and sham acupuncture in relieving symptoms of IBS. Methods: A total of 230 adult IBS patients (75% females, average age 38.4 yrs) were randomly assigned to 3 weeks of true or sham acupuncture (6 treatments) following a 3 week ‘run-in’ with sham acupuncture in an ‘augmented’ or ‘limited’ patient-practitioner interaction. A third arm of the study included a waitlist control group. The primary outcome was the IBS Global Improvement Scale (IBS-GIS) (range 1–7); secondary outcomes included IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS), Adequate Relief (IBS-AR) and IBS-Quality of life (IBS-QOL). Results: Though there was no statistically significant difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture on the IBS-GIS (41% vs. 32%, p=0.25), both groups improved significantly compared to the wait list control group (37% vs. 4%, p=0.001). Similarly, small differences that were not statistically significant favored acupuncture on the other three outcomes: IBS-AR (59% vs 57%, p=0.83), IBS-SSS (31% vs 21%, p=0.18) and IBS-QOL (17% vs 13%, p=0.56). Eliminating responders during the run-in period did not substantively change the results. Side effects were generally mild and only slightly greater in the acupuncture group. Conclusion: This study did not find evidence to support the superiority of acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture in the treatment of IBS.en-USacupunctureIBSrandomized controlled trialJournal Article2018-04-1610.1038/ajg.2009.156