Aim 1: compared to sham acupuncture and UC, determine the effect of acupuncture on a) the psychoneurological cluster (primary outcome) and b) pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance as individual symptoms (secondary outcomes).
Aim 2: examine the role of methylsulfonylmethane as mediator in the mechanisms of acupuncture on the psychoneurological cluster and each individual symptom from week 0 to week 6 (primary endpoint) and to week 12 (secondary endpoint).
Aim 3: identify multilevel predictors of treatment response in the acupuncture group, including a) biological (metabolomic signature, age); 2) clinical (previous treatment) and 3) psychosocial (treatment expectancy) characteristics.
