Background: Acupuncture, a key component of traditional Chinese medicine, is a form of alternative medicine in which thin needles are inserted into the body commonly for pain relief. To date, the role of traditional Chinese acupuncture in mood disorders in the postpartum period is unclear. Thus, this study aimed to review the effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with postpartum depression (PPD). Methods: We searched databases such as PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register until September 2018. Meta-analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 2.0 software. The mean difference (MD) and risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to evaluate the results of each comparison. Results: A total of 887 PPD patients from 12 randomised controlled trials were included in the quantitative meta-analysis, with 443 patients in the treatment group and 444 patients in the control group. Patients in the acupuncture group had significantly better performances assessed by the Hamilton Depression Scale than those in the control group, and the pooled MD was −1.27 (95% CI: −2.55 to 0.01; p = 0.05, I2 = 83%) in the random-effect model. In addition, significantly better performance in the effective rate was observed in the acupuncture group than in the control group, and the pooled RR was 1.20 (95% CI: 1.09 to 1.33; p < 0.0001, I2 = 46%). However, in subgroup analysis for the acupuncture therapy alone, only effective rate showed a significantly better performance. Conclusion: Traditional Chinese acupuncture seems to be effective in improving some symptoms of PPD, although the evidence is uncertain. Therefore, further studies following standardized guidelines with a low risk of bias are needed to confirm the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of PPD.

Keywords: intracerebral hemorrhage/animal model/behavior/histopathology Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2010, 220 (1), 33-40.

Aim The stigma of mental disorders and poor treatment compliance can deprive patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) of receiving standard treatment. This study aimed to clarify whether MDD patients' stigma and treatment non‐compliance issues can be mitigated using group cognitive behavioural therapy (GCBT). Methods Eighty‐eight participants with first‐episode MDD were randomly divided into GCBT groups (GCBTs) and control groups (Cs). The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD‐24), Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS‐8™) and Stigma Scale (SS) were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect on all participants before and after receiving GCBT. Data were assessed at baseline and post‐treatment. Results At the baseline, there were no significant differences (in terms of the demographic data of the participants and the scores on HRSD‐24, MMAS‐8™ and SS) between the two groups. After 8 weeks of GCBT, there were significant differences in HRSD‐24 (P < .01), MMAS‐8™ (P < .01), SS (P < .01), treatment compliance (P < .01) and therapeutic effect evaluation based on rate of deduction (P < .05) between the two groups. Conclusion GCBT can reduce patients' sense of stigma, improve treatment compliance, effectively alleviate depressive symptoms and promote the recovery of MDD patients.

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