Anti-depressive effect of acupuncture on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
- Author:
Yan HUANG
1
;
Xin-Jun WANG
1
;
Ling-Ling WANG
1
;
Sheng-Feng LU
1
;
Bing-Mei ZHU
1
;
Lan-Feng XU
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Acupuncture Therapy; Adult; Aged; Antidepressive Agents; pharmacology; therapeutic use; Depression; therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors; pharmacology; therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
- From: Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine 2013;33(10):1341-1344
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo evaluate anti-depressive effects of acupuncture on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
METHODSTotally 60 patients with depression were randomly assigned to the control group (30 cases) and the treatment group (30 cases). All patients took one kind of SSRIs. Those in the treatment group were additionally treated by acupuncture. All were treated for 6 weeks. Patients' efficacies were evaluated with Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Eisenberg antidepressant side effects scale (Asberg).
RESULTSCompared with the control group after 6 weeks of treatment, the cured-markedly effective rate was improved by 33.4% in the treatment group (P < 0.05). The HAMD was lower in the treatment group. The tendency of interaction of sleep disorder factor and anxiety/somatization factor was different between at the end of 1-week treatment and at the end of 6-week treatment in the treatment group (P < 0.05). The SDS score decreased at the end of 6-week treatment in the treatment group. The reduction rate was elevated by 19.23% (P < 0.05). By the end of 6-week treatment, the average score of Asberg decreased by 3.77 score in average in the treatment group, while it decreased by 0.07 score in average in the control group (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONAcupuncture could effectively improve anti-depressive effects of SSRIs and reduce their adverse reactions.
