Publication Name	World Journal of Psychiatry
Manuscript ID	114009
Country	Taiwan

Category	Medicine, Research & Experimental
Manuscript Type	Editorial
Article Title	Redefining pain and mental health management in cervical spondylosis: Electroacupuncture as a neuroinflammatory modulator and multimodal therapeutic innovation
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Riya Karmakar, Aditya Kandalkar, Hsiang-Chen Wang and Arvind Mukundan
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Arvind Mukundan, Assistant Professor, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chung Cheng University, No. 168 University Road, Min Hsiung, Chiayi 62102, Taiwan. arvindmukund96@gmail.com
Key Words	Cervical spondylosis; Generalized anxiety disorder; Electroacupuncture; Neuroinflammation; Pain-anxiety-inflammation cycle; Central sensitization; Endogenous opioids; Cytokines; Multimodal therapy; Socioeconomic impact
Core Tip	Cervical spondylosis often combines with generalized anxiety disorder, creating a loop of pain-anxiety-inflammation that complicates therapy. This editorial proposes electroacupuncture (EA) as a possible treatment that can reduce pain, anxiety, and functional impairment in chronic stress patients with generalized anxiety disorder by influencing neural inflammation and the release of endogenous opioids. EA aids in regulating inflammatory signals and restoring brain function, complementing conventional therapy. Due to its superior safety profile and potential cost savings, EA offers a novel, evidence-based approach to enhance quality of life, decrease medication usage, and alleviate both physical and mental symptoms in these patients.
Citation	Karmakar R, Kandalkar A, Wang HC, Mukundan A. Redefining pain and mental health management in cervical spondylosis: Electroacupuncture as a neuroinflammatory modulator and multimodal therapeutic innovation. World J Psychiatry 2025; In press

Received	2025-09-10 08:23
Peer-Review Started	2025-09-10 08:24
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2025-10-13 03:14
Return for Revision	2025-10-13 03:14
Revised	2025-10-14 04:39
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2025-12-12 02:35
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2025-12-12 09:21
Articles in Press	2025-12-12 09:21
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor	2025-12-13 02:21
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	2220-3206 (online)
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