OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of acupuncture for depression and to discuss its impact on the content of 5-HT in patients with depression.

METHODSEighty patients with depression were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a western medication group,40 cases in each one. Acupuncture was applied in the acupuncture group,Siman(KI 14),Shenshu(BL 23),Guanyuan(CV 4),Dazhui(GV 14),Yinlingquan(SP 9), Zusanli(ST 36),Taichong(LR 3),Yanglingquan(GB 34) and Jingming(BL 1) were selected, the intensive moxibustion was applied at G(uanyuan(CV 4). Fluoxetine was treated with oral administration in the western medication group. The treatments of six weeks were required in each group. The Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) was applied to evaluate efficacy and serum 5-HT was detected before and after treatment in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment,the scores of HAMD were decreased obviously in the two groups compared with those before treatment (scores in the acupuncture group: 24. 48 ± 0. 28 vs 8. 95 ± 2. 24; scores in the western medication group: 24. 14±0. 24 vs 10. 29±1. 30),and the differences were statistically significant (both P<0. 05). Between the two groups,the scores of HAMD in the acupuncture group at the end of the lst,2nd,4th,6th weeks were superior to those in the western medication group (all P<0. 05). The content of serum 5-HT after treatment was increased markedly compared with that before treatment [the content in the acupuncture group: (26. 21 2. 36)pg/mL vs (52. 07 ± 0. 56)pg/mL, the content in the western medication group:(26. 26±2. 31)pg/mL vs (51. 70±0. 52)pg/ mL, both P<0. 05]. But there was no statistic significance between the two groups(P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of acupuncture for depression is superior to that of western medication with fluoxetine.