A study of acupuncturing “Chou’s Tiaoshen” acupoints on patients in subacute insomnia

INTERVENTION: Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Treatment group: Participants receive acupuncture using "Chou’s Tiaoshen” acupoints, including Baihui (GV‐20), Shenting (GV‐24), and Sishencong (EX‐HN1), Sanyinjiao (SP‐6), Shenmen (HT‐7) . Using stainless steel needles (0.32×40 mm, HuaTuo, China). Then some other points like, Danzhong(CV‐17), Taixi (KI‐3), Qihai (CV‐6), Taichong (LR3), and Qiuxu(GB‐40) are chosen. Operation: Patients in supine position. Baihui (GV‐20), Shenting (GV‐24), and Sishencong (EX‐HN1) are punctured at a depth of 20‐25mm obliquely. Sanyinjiao (SP‐6) and Shenmen (HT‐7) are inserted 15mm perpendicularly. Until feeling tactile sensation then manually manipulated by rotation methods to produce a characteristic sensation known as "De Qi". Mild reinforcing and attenuating, retaining the needle for 30minutes. When all the needles inserted, needle handles needs to be a line horizontally and vertically. The treatment will be given once a day and 5 times a week in weekdays, the course will last two weeks. Control group: Participants take estazolam 30min prior to bedtime in the day. The course will last two weeks. Participants keep sleep diaries and are followed up with questionnaires to examine thier symptoms of insomnia and sleep quality. CONDITION: Subacute insomnia ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders ; Insomnia PRIMARY OUTCOME: Sleep quality and disturbances are measured using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) at baseline, day 14 and day 28. SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Insomnia severity level are measured using insomnia severity index (ISI) at baseline, day 14 and day 28; 2. Daytime function or daytime fatigue is measured using Fatigue Scale (FS)(FS incluing the items of physical fatigue and mental fatigue) at baseline, day 14 and day 28; 3. Symptoms of insomnia are measured using Sleep diaries. It will be recorded everyday after patients start to be treated, and we will take their Sleep diaries at day 14 and day 28 INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Text Revision, 5th ed (DSM‐V) and Chinese Adult Insomnia Diagnosis and Treatment Guide 2012 2. A predominant complaint of dissatisfaction with sleep quantity or quality, associated with one (or more) of the following symptoms: 2.1. Difficulty initiating sleep 2.2. Difficulty maintaining sleep, characterized by frequent awakenings or problems returning to sleep after awakenings 2.3. Early‐morning awakening with inability to return to sleep 3. The sleep disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, educational, academic, behavioral, or other important areas of functioning 4. The sleep difficulty occurs at least 3 nights per week. The sleep difficulty is present for at least 1 months 5. Experienced insomnia between 4 weeks and 3 months before the start of project 6. Age: patients between 20 and 60 years old 7. Not yet taken es