Using acupuncture to treat depression: A feasibility study

Whiting, Matthew; Leavey, Gerard; Scammell, A.; Au, Selwyn; King, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2007.07.005

Cited by 19 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…EA can alleviate the symptoms of DD patients without detectable negative side effects. [4][5][6] However, the underlying mechanisms of EA treatment for depression are unclear. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a major factor in the pathogenesis of depression, and its production could reflect the degree of damage to nerve cells.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Such an effect would make acupuncture a good choice for nonpharmacological intervention due to its advantages of safety and absence of side effects. [4][5][6] To achieve good control in stimulating the acupoints, we used EA treatment rather than traditional hand-guided acupuncture. In the selection of points, we compared two combinations of acupoints: one based on our long-term clinical experience and another as the EA control based on the acupoints frequently used for DD-associated symptoms in China.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Effects of Electroacupuncture on Depression and the Production of Glial Cell Line–Derived Neurotrophic Factor Compared with Fluoxetine: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Sun

Zhao

et al. 2013

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

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Background and Objective: Postmortem studies indicate that the number and density of glial cells are reduced in different brain regions of patients with depression. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of depressive disorder (DD) and might be a biomarker for damage to nerve cells. In this study, we compared the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, on DD patients, focusing on the serum level of GDNF. Design: This was a prospective, randomized clinical trial. Setting: Seventy-five patients with DD from the Department of Acupuncture, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, were recruited. Intervention: Twenty patients were treated with acupuncture for 6 weeks on the acupoints of Baihui (DU20) and Zusanli (ST36). Sixteen patients were treated with acupuncture for 6 weeks on the acupoints of Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Neiguan (PC6), and Shenmen (HT7), and constituted the electroacupuncture control group. The patients received acupuncture treatment five times per week. Twenty-five patients were treated with oral fluoxetine (20 mg/day) for 6 weeks. Outcome measures: All subjects were evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale at four time points (0 [baseline], 2, 4, and 6 weeks after treatment). Serum GDNF was quantified in duplicate by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: EA and fluoxetine had similar curative effects on DD patients. EA had a faster onset of action, better response rate, and better improvement rate than fluoxetine. Both fluoxetine and EA treatment restored the normal concentration of GDNF in the serum of DD patients. Conclusion: EA treatment for depression is as effective as a recommended dose of fluoxetine. However, EA demonstrates an advantage in the regulation of the production of GDNF compared with fluoxetine.

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Effects of Electroacupuncture on Depression and the Production of Glial Cell Line–Derived Neurotrophic Factor Compared with Fluoxetine: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Sun

Zhao

et al. 2013

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

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“…When considering the possibility of incorporating further evidence into the analyses, only one previous trial of 59 patients with depression has been undertaken in the UK [27] . Patients received 12 sessions of acupuncture or sham acupuncture and outcomes were measured on the Beck Depression Index (BDI).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Acupuncture, Counselling and Usual Care in Treating Patients with Depression: The Results of the ACUDep Trial

et al. 2014

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BackgroundNew evidence on the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture plus usual care (acupuncture) and counselling plus usual care (counselling) for patients with depression suggests the need to investigate the health-related quality of life and costs of these treatments to understand whether they should be considered a good use of limited health resources.Methods and FindingsThe cost-effectiveness analyses are based on the Acupuncture, Counselling or Usual care for Depression (ACUDep) trial results. Statistical analyses demonstrate a difference in mean quality adjusted life years (QALYs) and suggest differences in mean costs which are mainly due to the price of the interventions. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis is used to express decision uncertainty. Acupuncture and counselling are found to have higher mean QALYs and costs than usual care. In the base case analysis acupuncture has an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £4,560 per additional QALY and is cost-effective with a probability of 0.62 at a cost-effectiveness threshold of £20,000 per QALY. Counselling compared with acupuncture is more effective and more costly with an ICER of £71,757 and a probability of being cost-effective of 0.36. A scenario analysis of counselling versus usual care, excluding acupuncture as a comparator, results in an ICER of £7,935 and a probability of 0.91.ConclusionsAcupuncture is cost-effective compared with counselling or usual care alone, although the ranking of counselling and acupuncture depends on the relative cost of delivering these interventions. For patients in whom acupuncture is unavailable or perhaps inappropriate, counselling has an ICER less than most cost-effectiveness thresholds. However, further research is needed to determine the most cost-effective treatment pathways for depressed patients when the full range of available interventions is considered.

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“…18 Other diagnostic and outcome measure tools used in different studies were RAND 36 Item Health Survey 1.0, PHQ-9, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM III or IV), International Classifi cation of Disease and Chinese Classifi cation of Mental Disorders. [17][18][19][20][21][22] In our study, we used BDI for the assessment of depression and for evaluation of the effi cacy of treatment. BDI forms are completed by patients themselves, making them easier to use; however, the scores were calculated by the doctors making bias less likely.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[17][18][19][20][21][22] In our study, we used BDI for the assessment of depression and for evaluation of the effi cacy of treatment. BDI forms are completed by patients themselves, making them easier to use; however, the scores were calculated by the doctors making bias less likely.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acupuncture for Depression and Myalgia in Patients with Hepatitis: An Observational Study

et al. 2010

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Background Depressive symptoms and myalgia are commonly seen in patients with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C. Objective To investigate the effi cacy of acupuncture treatment on depressive symptoms and myalgia in patients with hepatitis. Methods Of 44 patients with hepatitis screened for depression and myalgia, 28 were enrolled and included in the study. The main outcome measure for depressive symptoms was Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). For pain/myalgia, patients rated their pain on a scale from 0 to 10. Patients with a score greater than the cut-off point in either score were allocated to acupuncture treatment. The Chinese method of acupuncture was used. Treatment continued for 6 weeks. Results At baseline, 17/44 patients (39%) had a BDI score ≥17 and 24 (55%) had a pain score ≥5. A total of 28 patients were allocated to acupuncture treatment, forming three groups: group 1, 13 patients with high BDI and high myalgia scores; group 2, 11 patients with low BDI score but high myalgia score; group 3, 4 patients with high BDI score but low myalgia score. Adherence to treatment was good; all patients completed the sessions and there were no drop-outs. Signifi cant improvements in end-treatment BDI and in myalgia scores compared with baseline levels was found. Conclusion Acupuncture seems to be a promising treatment for patients with hepatitis. Further studies are warranted in large populations to establish the therapeutic role of acupuncture. INTRODUCTIONThe estimated numbers of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and B (CHB) viral infections in the world are 2.7 million and 350 million, respectively. 1 2 Depressive symptoms are common in these patient groups. Increased expression of specifi c proinfl ammatory cytokines has been shown to cause depressive symptoms in patients with hepatitis C virus. Additionally, treatment of the disease with interferon (IFN) may also cause or exacerbate depression.3 4 Reports suggest that depression in patients with CHB develops less frequently than in patients with CHC during treatment with IFN. However, a Turkish study found a Acupuncture for depression and myalgia in patients with hepatitis: an observational study high rate of psychiatric disorders and no signifi cant difference between the two groups. 5Psychotherapy and antidepressant drugs are known to be useful but high rates of dropout, lack of effect in some patients, intolerable adverse effects and relapse all reduce their effectiveness and patient compliance. [6][7][8] In consequence, patients with depression may seek alternative treatments.Acupuncture has long been used to treat emotional and psychological disorders, including anxiety, insomnia and depression. It may also be an alternative treatment of depressive symptoms in patients with CHB or CHC. In our patients with hepatitis, we have found that in addition to depression, myalgia is also common. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and myalgia among patients with chronic hepatitis and ...

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Using acupuncture to treat depression: A feasibility study

Cited by 19 publications

References 13 publications

Effects of Electroacupuncture on Depression and the Production of Glial Cell Line–Derived Neurotrophic Factor Compared with Fluoxetine: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Effects of Electroacupuncture on Depression and the Production of Glial Cell Line–Derived Neurotrophic Factor Compared with Fluoxetine: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Acupuncture, Counselling and Usual Care in Treating Patients with Depression: The Results of the ACUDep Trial

Acupuncture for Depression and Myalgia in Patients with Hepatitis: An Observational Study

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