Acupuncture in anxiety levels of women with breast cancer: a randomized pragmatic study

Breast cancer has multi-dimensional aspects, representing the first mortality cause by neoplasia among women, and frequently triggering off conditions of anxiety, depression and fear. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of anxiety in women with a diagnosis of breast cancer. This is a randomized clinical trial composed by 46 women with breast cancer, 22 in the experimental group, and 24 in the control group. The dependent variables were trait and state of anxiety, and the independent variable was intervention with acupuncture at the preoperative period of mastectomy. The State - Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used, and the following points: Nei Guan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (E36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Taichong (LR3), Yintang, Baihui (DU 20), Jiuwei (REN 15), Shanzhong (Ren 17). After six acupuncture sessions, the average of the State of Anxiety in the experimental group was reduced in a significant way, while in the control group, there was an increase in symptoms. A significant reduction in the systolic pressure was observed in the experimental group, before and after needle sessions at the 1st and 3rd sessions, while cardiac frequency presented significand reduction in all sessions. It was evidenced that intervention with acupuncture was efficient for the treatment of anxiety in women with the diagnosis of breast cancer.