OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in depression relief in the treatment of depressive disorder at the acute stage between the combined therapy of acupuncture and 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine) selective serotonini reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the single application of SSRIs and explore the impact on the imbalance of 5-HT and TH1/TH2.

METHODSNinety cases of depressive disorder at the acute stage were randomized into a combined therapy group and a medication group, 45 cases in each one. In the medication group, SSRIs were prescribed forl oral administration, once or twice a day, continuously for 4 weeks. In the combined therapy group, on the basis of treatment as the medication group, acupuncture was combined. The main acupoints were Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 29), Shenting (GV 24), Fengchi (GB 20), Dazhui (GV 14) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1), once every two. days, continuously for 4 weeks. Before treatment, and after the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment, the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate the depression severity. Separately, before and after the 4 weeks of treatment, the levels of serum 5-HT, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were determined and compared with those in 45 cases of the healthy group.

RESULTSHAMD score was reduced in the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment as compared with that before treatment in the combined therapy group (all P<0 01). HAMD score was reduced in the 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment as compared with that before treatment in the medication group (all P<0. 01). HAMD scores in the combined therapy group were lower than those in the medication group in the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment (all P< 0. 01). Before treatment, in the combined therapy group and the medication group, the levels of serum 5-HT, IL-4 and IL-10 were all lower than those in the healthy group (all P<0. 01); the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were higher than those in the healthy group (all P<0. 01). In the combined therapy group and the medication group, the levels of 5-HT, IL-4 and IL-10 in 4 weeks of treatment were all increased as compared with those before treatment (all P<0. 01), and the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were lower than those before treatment (all P<0. 01). In the combined therapy group, the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in 4 weeks of treatment were lower than those in the medication group, and the levels of 5-HT, IL-4 and IL-10 were higher than those in the medication group (P<0. 01, P< 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of acupuncture and SSRIs achieves much quicker and more effective re-' sult for relieving depression in the patients of depressive disorder as compared with simple oral administration of' SSRIs, and much more contributes to adjust the imbalance of serum 5-HT and TH1/TH2.