Efectividad de la Acupuntura en el Craving de Adultos Consumidores de Alcohol: Revisión Sistemática

Morbidity and mortality associated with alcohol consumption continue to increase. Although there are various pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for alcohol addiction, craving is one of the main factors that trigger relapses. Therefore, it is crucial to develop innovative strategies to effectively manage and regulate craving. The objective was to analyze the scientific evidence available between 2015 and April 2024 on the effectiveness of acupuncture in the emotional regulation of craving in adult alcohol consumers. The methodology consisted of a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines. 1,769 eligible studies were identified; after eliminating 476 duplicates, 1,293 potential studies were evaluated. Finally, two studies met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The results suggest that acupuncture, in its different modalities, shows promising potential as a complementary intervention for emotional regulation and craving management in adults with alcohol consumption. Acupuncture demonstrated positive effects on critical indicators such as the reduction of craving and anxiety, key factors in preventing relapses in alcohol dependence. In conclusion, this systematic review shows the potential of acupuncture as a supportive therapy in the management of craving and emotional regulation. Future research with larger samples and experimental designs is recommended to strengthen the evidence base.