Self-Acupressure for Multiple Sclerosis-Related Depression and Fatigue: A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

10.30699/jambs.28.130.276 Background & Objective: Depression and fatigue are common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). These complications exacerbate the symptoms of MS. This study aimed to determine the effect of self-acupressure on depression and fatigue in MS patients. Materials & Methods: In this randomized clinical trial (RCT), 96 participants from the MS Association of Mashhad, Iran completed the demographic form, the Depression, Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-42), and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Then, they were randomly assigned to intervention and sham groups. Participants in the intervention group pressed the Shenmen and Yin Tang acupoints, and the sham group pressed 2.5 cm below the Shenmen and 3 cm above the Yin Tang acupoints for 15 minutes every day for one month. The participants completed the DASS-42 and FSS one hour after the final intervention in each group. Also, the chi-square, independent t-test, and paired t-test were used in the study. Results: The statistical analysis showed that the mean fatigue and depression scores were not significantly different between the two groups at the baseline (P>0.05). However, the mean scores of fatigue and depression significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to sham group one hour after the last intervention (P<0.05). Conclusion: Self-acupressure is a simple and inexpensive intervention that may reduce depression and fatigue among MS patients.

Impacts of acupressure treatment on depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Four studies focused on old participants (aged 65 or above)[ 22 - 25 ], while the remaining studies recruited participants from 20-64 years. Ten studies recruited participants with chronic diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[ 22 ], lung cancer[ 26 ], acute myocardial infarction[ 27 ], breast cancer[ 28 ], low back pain[ 29 ], multiple sclerosis[ 30 ], hemodialysis[ 31 - 33 ], and unilateral knee osteoarthritis[ 34 ]. Three studies recruited patients with depression[ 24 , 25 , 35 ].…”

“…Risk of bias was assessed and summarized in Figure 3 . Fourteen studies were described as “randomized,” of which eight studies reported detailed randomization methods[ 25 , 26 , 28 , 30 - 34 ]. All studies reported allocation concealment in detail.…”

“…Among the included studies, five of them applied three acupoints or fewer[ 25 , 26 , 30 - 32 ], and six studies applied more than three acupressure points[ 22 , 24 , 28 , 29 , 33 , 34 ]. However, three studies did not report the specific acupoints used for the intervention[ 23 , 27 , 35 ].…”

“…Three trials adopted BDI[ 31 , 33 , 35 ]; four trials adopted GDS[ 22 - 25 ]; two trial used HADS[ 26 , 28 ]; three trials used DASS[ 30 , 32 , 34 ]; one trial used MDI[ 27 ], and the other trial used EPDS for depression[ 29 ]. Similar findings were reported in all studies that the acupressure group had a greater reduction in depression after treatment than the sham or the TAU control groups.…”

The Efficacy and Safety of Manual Therapy for Symptoms Associated with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The RCTs included in the study were used to observe the effect of manual therapy on fatigue, 16 , 17 , 21–24 pain, 17–21 , 23 spasticity, 17 , 19 , 21 , 25 psychological state, 17–19 , 23 and physical function 17–19 , 23 in MS patients. In the control groups, sham intervention, 16 , 17 , 19 , 22–25 usual care, 21 and relaxation 18 , 20 were performed.…”