Lucke-Wold B, Salam HD, Karayi G. Behavioral analysis of insomnia sufferers to acupuncture treatment. World J Psychiatry 2025; 15(11): 108630 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i11.108630]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Himika D Salam, Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Manipur University, Indo-Myanmar Road, Canchipur, Imphal 795003, Manipur, India. himikasalam6@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Article-Type of This Article
Letter to the Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Psychiatry. Nov 19, 2025; 15(11): 108630 Published online Nov 19, 2025. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i11.108630
Behavioral analysis of insomnia sufferers to acupuncture treatment
Brandon Lucke-Wold, Himika D Salam, Gnaneswari Karayi
Brandon Lucke-Wold, Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States
Himika D Salam, Department of Zoology, Manipur University, Imphal 795003, Manipur, India
Gnaneswari Karayi, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence RI, 02903, United States
Author contributions: Lucke-Wold B contributed to the overall concept and design of the manuscript; Salam HD contributed to the illustrations; Salam HD and Karayi G contributed to the editing of the manuscript and literature review; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Himika D Salam, Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Manipur University, Indo-Myanmar Road, Canchipur, Imphal 795003, Manipur, India. himikasalam6@gmail.com
Received: April 21, 2025 Revised: June 27, 2025 Accepted: October 9, 2025 Published online: November 19, 2025 Processing time: 199 Days and 1.6 Hours
Abstract
In this commentary, we respond to Zhao et al’s recent paper which focuses on mechanisms underlying insomnia sufferers’ engagement with acupuncture. Insomnia, a prevalent condition characterized by difficulty falling asleep and poor sleep quality, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and psychiatric illness. Acupuncture, a method involving the therapeutic placement of needles, has been widely accepted as a treatment for insomnia with minimal side effects. In fact, clinical trials suggest auricular acupuncture may improve sleep duration more than cognitive behavioral therapy. However, responses to acupuncture vary. Some patients find it extremely beneficial, while others view it as a routine treatment—or avoid it altogether due to needle phobia. Patient engagement is influenced by cultural beliefs, encouragement, motivation, prior experiences, and recommendations from peers or clinicians. Trust in the physician and testimonials from recovered patients are particularly important facilitators. Looking ahead, a holistic approach - integrating acupuncture with meditation, pranayama, yoga, and other restorative practices - may enhance treatment effectiveness and help patients achieve restorative sleep.
Core Tip: This medical-sociological interdisciplinary study examines factors influencing insomnia patients’ decisions to engage in acupuncture, utilizing the capability, opportunity, motivation - behavior model and theoretical domain framework. Key facilitators of patients’ pursuit of acupuncture include cultural beliefs, concerns about dependence on hypnotic medications, and encouragement from trusted opinion leaders, whereas barriers include limited knowledge, accessibility challenges, and needle phobia. The findings underscore the multifaceted nature of this decision, which is shaped by treatment efficacy, cultural context, economic factors, and communication dynamics. Recommendations for clinicians and policymakers include enhancing patient education, improving treatment accessibility through public health measures, fostering effective physician-patient communication, and addressing needle phobia through cognitive interventions to optimize treatment adherence and outcomes.
