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https://doi.org/10.26332/0mj85098
Changes in Headache Pain Intensity and Perception Following Acupuncture Treatment
Daniela Lucić Ćaleta
; General County Hospital Vinkovci
*
Ozana Katarina Tot
; University Hospital Osijek, Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, and Intensive Care Medicine, Osijek, Croatia
Dino Budrovac
; University Hospital Osijek, Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, and Intensive Care Medicine, Osijek, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Aim of the study: The aim of this research was to investigate changes in pain intensity and pain perception in patients with headaches following acupuncture therapy, compared with baseline values.
Methods: The research was conducted at the Institute for Pain Management at KBC Osijek on 20 patients diagnosed with headaches who underwent a two-week course of acupuncture therapy. At the beginning of the therapy, each patient filled out an anamnestic questionnaire and rated their pain on a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Pain rating was repeated on the fifth day and at the end of the therapy. Additionally, they completed the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ-8), the Pain Detect Questionnaire (PDQ), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-14) before and after the therapy.
Results: The study sample consisted predominantly of women, with a median age of 46 years. Most of these patients use pharmacological therapy daily. Acupuncture did not significantly alter pain perception or intensity, except in those with a neuropathic pain component. Also, patients reported high levels of depression and anxiety, which were not significantly alleviated by acupuncture.
Conclusion: While acupuncture therapy reduced the intensity of pain and improved mental health for some individuals, there were no statistically significant differences in this study. Therefore, further research should be conducted on a larger sample size and over a longer period to assess the actual impact of acupuncture and why its efficacy differs among individuals.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
352304
URI
Publication date:
17.10.2026.
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