A randomised controlled trial of acupuncture for the treatment of hyperventilation syndrome

INTERVENTION: Current interventions as of 14/10/2008: Physiotherapy in the form of breathing retraining: Participants will be taught relaxed diaphragmatic breathing and encouraged to reduce their breath rate to 6 ‐ 8 breaths per minute. They will also be taught a contact‐relaxation technique. They will then be advised to carry out these techniques at home at least 3 times per day. Acupuncture: A western approach to acupuncture therapy will be used. Participants will receive either real acupuncture or placebo acupuncture using the Streitberger needle. Needles will be placed on 8 points of the body and a draining technique will be used i.e. once inserted, the needles will be left for a period of 30 minutes. Each participant in the acupuncture group will receive twice weekly treatments for 4 weeks (therefore 8 acupuncture treatments in total). Previous interventions: Physiotherapy in the form of breathing retraining: Participants will be taught relaxed diaphragmatic breathing and encouraged to reduce their breath rate to 6 ‐ 8 breaths per minute. They will also be taught a contact‐relaxation technique. They will then be advised to carry out these techniques at home daily. Acupuncture: A western approach to acupuncture therapy will be used. Participants will receive either real acupuncture or placebo acupuncture using the Streitberger needle. Needles will be placed on 8 points of the body and a draining technique will be used i.e. once inserted, the needles will be left for a period of 30 minutes. CONDITION: Hyperventilation syndrome ; Signs and Symptoms ; Abnormalities of breathing PRIMARY OUTCOME: Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. This is a validated questionnaire which is used to identify anxiety and depression in non‐psychiatric hospital clinics.; ; Added as of 14/10/2008:; All primary and secondary outcomes are measured at 1) baseline 2) pre‐treatment (after a 4‐week wait period to ensure participant's condition is stable) and 3) post‐treatment on the 9th session. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Any patient newly diagnosed with hyperventilation syndrome by the respiratory physicians at Southampton General Hospital. Added as of 14/10/2008: Both males and females, over 18 years old SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Nijmegen Questionnaire ‐ this is a validated screening tool which has been shown to have 95% effectiveness in discriminating hyperventilators from normals; 2. Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP2) ‐ this is a validated quality of life measure, which is individualised and problem specific and also includes general wellbeing; 3. Objective measures of cardiorespiratory performance will also be taken e.g. respiratory rate and pattern, resting end tidal carbon dioxide, pulse oximetry, pulse rate and blood pressure; 4. Borkovec and Nau credibility rating ‐ this will be used to assess the success of blinding; ; Added as of 14/10/2008:; All primary and secondary outcomes are measured at 1) baseline 2) pre‐treatment (after a 4‐week wait period to ensure participant's condition is stable) and 3) post‐treatment on the 9th session.