Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Depressive Symptoms, Gambling Withdrawal Symptoms, and Platelet Serotonin in People With Gambling Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Background: Auricular acupressure has been used to treat addiction, but there are few studies on gambling addiction and the mechanism of auricular acupressure.

Materials and methods: This study examined the effects of auricular acupressure on depressive symptoms, gambling withdrawal symptoms, and platelet serotonin s in individuals with gambling disorders. This was a quasi-experimental study. Data were collected between September 2021 and April 2024 at a gambling treatment center in South Korea. A total of 34 people with gambling disorders were assigned to one of the two groups: auricular acupressure and education. The experimental group received auricular acupressure for 6 weeks, and the control group received educational materials.

Results: Depressive symptoms significantly decreased in the experimental group ( t = 2.30, p = .029). Effect size d was 0.79 (95% confidence interval: 0.07-1.47). Auricular acupressure significantly reduced gambling withdrawal symptoms over 6 weeks compared to education for withdrawal symptoms ( F = 5.74, p = .001). The effect size d was 0.77 (95% confidence interval: 0.05-1.44). Serotonin levels also significantly changed (F = 4.48, p = .043).

Conclusions: Auricular acupressure effectively alleviates gambling withdrawal symptoms in individuals with gambling disorders and may also reduce depressive symptoms. Finding regarding serotonin could be used to explain the mechanism of auricular acupressure on symptoms.