OBJECTIVE  To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on sleep quality and serum levels of dopamine (DA) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in patients with chronic insomnia and emotional disorders.

  METHODS  62 cases of chronic insomnia with emotional disorders were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 32 cases in each group. Both groups were given sleep education, the treatment group was treated with electroacupuncture, and the control group was treated with blunt non-transdermal shallow needling. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), insomnia severity index (ISI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) were used to evaluate the sleep quality, insomnia, anxiety and depression of the two groups before and after treatment. Serum levels of dopamine and γ-aminobutyric acid were measured by ELISA.

  RESULTS  After treatment, the PSQI total score and each factor score of the treatment group decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and the ISI, HAMA, HAMD-17 scale scores were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the scores of each scale in the treatment group were significantly lower (P < 0.01). After treatment, the serum levels of DA and GABA in the treatment group were higher than those before treatment and in the control group (P < 0.01).

  CONCLUSION  Electroacupuncture is effective in improving the sleep quality of patients with chronic insomnia and emotional disorders, and can relieve their anxiety and depression. Its mechanism may be related to promoting the expression of DA, GABA and other transmitters in peripheral blood.