Effects of Acupuncture As A Treatment for Hyperventilation Syndrome: A Pilot, Randomized Crossover Trial

Background: Sustained and subtle hyperventilation can result in a wide variety of symptoms, leading to a chronic condition that has been termed hyperventilation syndrome (HVS). Treatment options include physiotherapy, in the form of breathing retraining (BR), but additional approaches aim to reduce the anxiety that is recognized as being a frequent component of this condition. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether acupuncture is an appropriate treatment for HVS to reduce anxiety, and whether a crossover trial is an appropriate study design to evaluate acupuncture in this condition. Design: A single-blind crossover trial was carried out comparing the effects of 4 weeks (30 minutes twice weekly) acupuncture and BR on patients with HVS. Subjects: Ten (10) patients diagnosed with HVS were recruited to the trial and randomized into two groups. Both groups received acupuncture and BR with a washout period of 1 week. Outcome measures: The primary outcome measure used was the Hospital Anxiety ...