Efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of depression: A systematic review of clinical research

Zhang, Zixuan; Li, Shaoyuan; Meng, Hong; Wang, Yifei; Zhang, Yue; Wu, Mozheng; Chen, Yu; Rong, Peijing; Wang, Yu

doi:10.1002/ar.24783

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…An early study demonstrated that manual stimulation of the Kl 3 acupoint influenced significantly peripheral vascular circulation, by means of sympathetic stimulation causing vasoconstriction [30]. Acupuncture is widely used in clinical practice and had been shown to have antidepressant effects in both clinical and animal studies [7,8,[31][32][33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electroacupuncture Prevents the Depression-Like Behavior by Inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 Inflammatory Pathway in Hippocampus of Mice Subjected to Chronic Mild Stress

Wang¹,

Bi²,

Huang³

et al. 2022

Neuropsychobiology

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Background: The precise physiological mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of depression are still unknown. This study aimed to observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on depression-like behavior of mouse in chronic mild stress (CMS) model and explore the underlying mechanism. Methods: The depression model was established by using CMS method for 6 weeks. After the third week of the CMS paradigm, EA treatment was performed daily for 15 min over a period of 3 weeks. The antidepressant-like effects of EA were evaluated using the sucrose preference test and the forced swimming test (FST). The protein levels of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), p-NF-κB, inhibitor of NF-κB, p-IκBα, NOD-like receptor protein 3, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in hippocampus of mice were detected. Results: Sucrose preference was decreased after 6 weeks of CMS and the effects of CMS was reversed by EA. CMS increased immobility time and decreased latency to the first immobility in the FST test, but these effects were reversed by EA. CMS-induced nuclear entry of NF-κB (nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio of NF-κB) with an increase in protein levels of p-NF-κB and p-IκBα in the hippocampus. The CMS also increased NLRP3 levels in the hippocampus. However, these effects were reversed by EA. In addition, the levels of IL-6, IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α in the hippocampus were increased by CMS, and these effects of stress were reversed by EA. Conclusion: EA prevented CMS-induced depressive-like behaviors by inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammatory pathway.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electroacupuncture Prevents the Depression-Like Behavior by Inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 Inflammatory Pathway in Hippocampus of Mice Subjected to Chronic Mild Stress

Wang¹,

Bi²,

Huang³

et al. 2022

Neuropsychobiology

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“…The theory of “healing spirit” is used throughout the treatment process, and the therapeutic effect is achieved by regulating the body’s qi, blood, yin, and yang. A large body of evidence suggests that acupuncture has satisfactory efficacy and safety in the treatment of depression ( 6 , 31 , 32 ) and CVD ( 33 – 35 ). Experiments in animal models of depression have shown that acupuncture increases hippocampal and neuroplasticity, reduces brain inflammation, and has effects on the HPA axis, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters ( 34 , 36 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acupuncture in treating cardiovascular disease complicated with depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Guan

et al. 2022

Front. Psychiatry

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BackgroundDepression is a serious risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Improving depression can alleviate cardiac symptoms and improve quality of life. Studies have shown that acupuncture has a positive effect on depression and CVD. This systematic review and meta-analysis will evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of depression complicated with CVD.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and China Biomedical Literature databases. Randomized controlled trials of acupuncture vs. standard care or sham acupuncture or antidepressants were included. The retrieval time is from database construction to 07 April 2022. We used the “risk of bias” tool of Cochrane Collaboration, and the Review Manager (RevMan.) Version 5.4.1 for statistics analysis. Primary outcomes included Hamilton scale for depression (HAMD), self-rating depression scale (SDS), and the effective rate of depression. Secondary outcomes included frequency of angina pectoris and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for angina pain.ResultsA total of 2,366 studies were screened based on the search strategy. Twelve eligible studies with a total of 1,203 participants have been identified. The result showed that acupuncture reduced the HAMD score [weighted mean difference (WMD): −3.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): −5.38 to −1.09; P = 0.003] and the SDS score (WMD: −1.85; 95% CI: −2.14 to −1.56; P < 0.00001) in patients with depression complicated with CVD. Acupuncture also improved the effective rate of depression (risk ratio: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.29; P = 0.01). The result also showed that acupuncture reduced the attack frequency of angina pectoris (WMD: −4.54; 95% CI: −5.96 to −3.11; P < 0.00001) and the VAS score for angina pain (WMD: −0.72; 95% CI: −1.06 to −0.38; P < 0.0001). This article reviewed the significant advantages of acupuncture for depression and the superiority of acupuncture over no-intervention therapy, antidepressant therapy, and psychotherapy in reducing angina frequency and pain intensity in patients with CVD.ConclusionThis systematic review suggested that acupuncture was a good complementary and alternative therapy for CVD complicated with depression. Considering the limitations of the included research literature, it is still necessary to perform multi-center, large-sample, and double-blind high-quality studies to provide higher-level evidence in the later stage.Systematic review registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42022304957].

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“…Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapy that has been used to treat mental disorders since ancient times. Current research provides some evidence for the use of acupuncture for depression 12 13. Some of the studies that reported these beneficial effects suggested that the mechanisms might include the direct or indirect modulation of activity and connectivity of key brain regions that function in depression and mood regulation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for post-COVID-19 depression: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Li¹,

Liu

Luo

et al. 2023

BMJ Open

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IntroductionPost-COVID-19 depression (PCD) is a possible sequela of COVID-19. Some doctors have used acupuncture to treat PCD, but no systematic review or meta-analysis has yet evaluated its efficacy and safety for the treatment of PCD. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for PCD.Methods and analysisTwo reviewers will independently search the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Medline (PubMed), Excerpt Medica Database (EMBASE), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese Scientiﬁc Journal Database (VIP) and Wan-Fang Database from inception to 24 January 2023. Study selection, data extraction and assessment of study quality will be independently performed by two reviewers. If a meta-analysis is appropriate, Review Manager V.5.3 will be used for data synthesis; otherwise, a descriptive analysis will be conducted. Data will be synthesised using a ﬁxed-effects or random-effects model, according to the results of a heterogeneity test. The results will be presented as risk ratios with 95% CIs for dichotomous data, and weighted mean differences or standardised mean differences with 95% CIs for continuous data.Ethics and disseminationThe entire process used for this systematic review does not use private information, so ethical approval is not required. The results of this meta-analysis will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and/or conference presentations.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42022379312.

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Efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of depression: A systematic review of clinical research

Cited by 13 publications

References 35 publications

Electroacupuncture Prevents the Depression-Like Behavior by Inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 Inflammatory Pathway in Hippocampus of Mice Subjected to Chronic Mild Stress

Electroacupuncture Prevents the Depression-Like Behavior by Inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 Inflammatory Pathway in Hippocampus of Mice Subjected to Chronic Mild Stress

Acupuncture in treating cardiovascular disease complicated with depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for post-COVID-19 depression: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

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