Acupuncture and electroacupuncture in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a scoping review

Abstract

Objective: To map the evidence on the use of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in adults, identifying protocols, outcomes, and gaps in the literature. Methods: A scoping review was conducted according to PRISMA-ScR, with a protocol registered in the Open Science Framework (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/KWHFZ). The search was performed in the PubMed, SciELO, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases, covering the last 20 years. Primary studies and systematic reviews on manual acupuncture or electroacupuncture in adults with GAD were included. Selection was performed by independent reviewers, with standardized data extraction. Results: Eight studies were included (four primary and four systematic reviews), mostly from China. Manual acupuncture predominated, with interventions between 4 and 6 weeks and recurrent use of the points GV-20, Yintang, HT-7, and PC-6. Meta-analyses indicated a significant reduction in anxiety scores (HAM-A and SAS) and a favorable safety profile. However, a high risk of bias, methodological heterogeneity, and geographic concentration limited the consistency of the evidence. Final considerations: Acupuncture demonstrates therapeutic potential and safety in GAD, but the low methodological quality of the studies restricts definitive recommendations.