The Impact of Acupuncture on Health-Related Quality of Life in Veterans with Combat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Control Trial

Background: Quality of life is a foundational component of overall health and is negatively impacted by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the last decade, acupuncture treatment has become a popularized treatment option for PTSD, especially for Veterans. Research evidence is needed to provide support for acupuncture as a treatment for PTSD which leads to an enhanced quality of life. Objectives: This paper investigated the changes in health-related quality of life in Veterans with combat PTSD who enrolled in a 5-year randomized (two-arm, parallel-group, prospective, single-blinded) clinical trial, completing either a control (Sham) or acupuncture (Verum) treatment (N = 93). Methods: Health-related quality of life was measured by the Veterans RAND 12-item Health Survey (VR-12). Paired t tests between and among participants’ differences were calculated for the Verum acupuncture group, Sham acupuncture group, and Total group. Results: Veterans who completed acupuncture treatment in either randomized arm (Verum and Sham) had a self-perceived improvement in quality of life when assessing physical and mental health symptoms. Specifically, those who were randomized and completed Verum acupuncture treatment reported the greatest improvement in mental health quality of life. Conclusions: Study results support prior foundational findings that acupuncture has a positive effect on self-reported quality of life by reducing PTSD symptoms in Veterans with combat PTSD, with Verum acupuncture eliciting the greatest improvement on mental health symptoms.