Is the Chinese medicinal formula Guipi Decoction () effective as an adjunctive treatment for depression? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Chen-xia Sheng; Ze-qi Chen; Han-jin Cui; A-li Yang; Cong Wang; Zhe Wang; Nan-xiang SU; Tao Tang

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Is the Chinese medicinal formula Guipi Decoction () effective as an adjunctive treatment for depression? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Author: Chen-Xia SHENG ¹ ; Ze-Qi CHEN ¹ ; Han-Jin CUI ¹ ; A-Li YANG ¹ ; Cong WANG ¹ ; Zhe WANG ² ; Nan-Xiang SU ² ; Tao TANG ³
Author Information

1. Institute of Integrative Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
2. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China.
3. Institute of Integrative Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China. falcontang@126.com.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Chinese medicine formula; Guipi Decoction; Meta-analysis; depression
From: Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2017;23(5):386-395
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract:
OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Guipi Decoction (, GPD) as an adjunctive in the treatment of depression.
METHODSA review of all relevant studies retrieved from a search of the following databases were conducted without any language restriction: Excerpt Medica Database (EMBASE), PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Information, Wanfang Data, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Papers published until February 2013 were taken into consideration. The analysis was performed using the Cochrane software Revman 5.1.
RESULTSNine randomized controlled trials involving 620 patients with depression were included in this review. The meta-analysis revealed that compared with antidepressant therapy alone, treatment with a combination of GPD and an antidepressant drug signifificantly improved the symptoms of depression [weighted mean difference (WMD):-3.09; 95% confifidence interval (CI):-4.11 to-2.07] and increased the rates of effectiveness (OR: 4.75; 95% CI: 2.66-8.51) as well as recovery (OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.17-2.56). The adverse effects of GPD were not found to be signifificant in these studies.
CONCLUSIONSThe fifindings of this meta-analysis were in keeping with the notion that GPD formulations were effective in the treatment of depression without causing any serious adverse effects. However, currently available evidence was of low quality and therefore inadequate to justify a strong recommendation of using GPD formulations in the management of depression.