Chronic pain has emerged as a prevalent medical challenge in contemporary society. Patients suffering from chronic pain frequently develop comorbid psychological disorders, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and various psychiatric syndromes. These psychological complications not only significantly influence patients' pain perception and responses but may also constitute critical obstacles during pain management interventions. Acupuncture, as a clinical practice with millennia of historical evolution, has been substantiated by extensive research to demonstrate remarkable efficacy in alleviating diverse pain types and exhibits favorable therapeutic outcomes in ameliorating emotional disturbances such as anxiety and depression. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms underlying acupuncture-induced analgesia and anxiolytic effects remain to be fully elucidated. In this context, establishing ideal and stable animal models becomes imperative for in-depth investigation of the pathogenesis of pain-related emotional disorders and the mechanistic foundations of acupuncture efficacy. This article comprehensively reviews recent literature across multiple dimensions: the selection of experimental animals, model establishment methodologies, and behavioral assessment paradigms pertaining to animal model platforms for chronic pain with comorbid anxiety. Concurrently, it provides an in-depth discussion on research advancements regarding acupuncture intervention parameters, including needling techniques, acupoint selection, treatment duration, and efficacy evaluation within such animal models. The present review aims to propose comprehensive and referential strategies for constructing preclinical animal models to investigate the mechanisms of acupuncture in managing chronic pain with comorbid anxiety, thereby facilitating scientific advancements in related research fields.