Acupuncture versus Western Medicine for Depression in China: A Systematic Review_Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

Authors：

 SUN Yanli , CHEN Shuangbai , GAO Yi , XIONG Jun

Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China;

Corresponding author：

SUN Yanli, Email: sunyanli2513@yahoo.com.cn

Keywords：

Acupuncture; Depression; Randomized controlled trial; Systematic review

DOI：

10.7507/1672-2531.20080075

Video：

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Objective 　To assess the efficacy of acupuncture versus western medicine in the treatment of depression in China.
Methods 　Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving acupuncture versus western medicine in the treatment of depression in China were identified from CNKI (1979 to 2007), VIP (1989 to 2007), WANFANG Database (1998 to 2007) and CBM (1978 to 2007). We also hand searched relevant journals and conference proceedings. Data were extracted and evaluated by two reviewers independently with a specially designed extraction form. The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan4.2.8 software was used for data analyses.
Results 　A total of 8 trials involving 619 patients were included. Meta-analyses showed that the total effective rate in the acupuncture group was similar when compared with fluoxetine (RR 1.03, 95%CI 0.94 to 1.14), doxepin (RR 1.14, 95%CI 0.91 to 1.43), amitriptyline (RR 0.95, 95%CI 0.70 to 1.29) and venlafaxine (RR 1.02, 95%CI 0.90 to 1.16). As for the HAMD score at week 2, no significant difference was noted between acupuncture and fluoxetine (WMD 0.03, 95%CI -1.26 to 1.31) or amitriptyline (WMD –?0.33, 95%CI –?1.88 to 1.23); for the HAMD score at week 4, no significant difference was observed between acupuncture and fluoxetine (WMD –?0.24, 95%CI –?1.85 to 1.37) or amitriptyline (WMD –?0.57, 95%CI –?2.02 to 0.88); for the HAMD score at week 6, acupuncture also had similar effects to fluoxetine (WMD –?0.19, 95%CI –?1.51 to 1.13). In terms of the SDS scores at week 2, 4, 6 and 8, no significant differences were noted between acupuncture and fluoxetine. Two trials reported adverse events and these observed no adverse events in the acupuncture group, but 31 and 25 patients experienced adverse events in the western medicine groups of these two trials.
Conclusion 　Acupuncture is not inferior to western medicine, and it is worth noting that acupuncture is associated with few adverse reactions. Further large-scale trials are required to define the role of acupuncture in the treatment of depression.

Citation： SUN Yanli,CHEN Shuangbai,GAO Yi,XIONG Jun. Acupuncture versus Western Medicine for Depression in China: A Systematic Review. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2008, 08(5): 340-345. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.20080075 Copy

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5.	杜元灏, 李桂平, 颜红, 等. 调神疏肝针法治疗郁证的临床研究. 中国针灸, 2005, 25(3): 151-154.
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8.	裴音, 张捷, 陈杰, 等. 针刺王氏五脏俞治疗抑郁症临床观察. 中国中医药信息杂志, 2006, 13(6): 62-63.
9.	杨沈秋. 针刺治疗抑郁症48例临床观察. 中西结合杂志, 2006, 23(4): 44.
10.	杨卓欣, 虢周科. 针刺治疗抑郁症的临床疗效观察. 针灸临床杂志, 2003, 19(8): 28-29.

1. Thomas lbrerer. Survey on the Effectiveness of the Treatment of Depressive Diseases with a Multiple Method Psychotherapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Collection of the 80 International Academic Congress of Clinical Research of Acupuncture and Moxibustion&TCM, 2004. 59-65.
2. 中华医学会精神科分会主编. 中国精神障碍分类与诊断标准. 第三版. 济南: 山东科学技术出版社, 2001. 87-88.
3. 张静, 刘向阳, 张慧芳. 电针与阿米替林治疗抑郁症对照研究. 临床心身疾病杂志, 2004, 10(2): 98-99.
4. 罗和春, Ureil Halbriech, 沈渔邨, 等. 电针与氟西汀治疗抑郁症疗效的对照研究. 中华精神科杂志, 2003, 36(4): 215-219.
5. 杜元灏, 李桂平, 颜红, 等. 调神疏肝针法治疗郁证的临床研究. 中国针灸, 2005, 25(3): 151-154.
6. 李世君, 刘涛. 解郁调神法针刺治疗郁证临床观察. 中国中西医结合杂志, 2007, 27(2): 155-157.
7. 王祥, 林忆平. 针刺四神聪印堂内关治疗抑郁症. 云南中医学院学报, 2006, 29(3): 25-26.
8. 裴音, 张捷, 陈杰, 等. 针刺王氏五脏俞治疗抑郁症临床观察. 中国中医药信息杂志, 2006, 13(6): 62-63.
9. 杨沈秋. 针刺治疗抑郁症48例临床观察. 中西结合杂志, 2006, 23(4): 44.
10. 杨卓欣, 虢周科. 针刺治疗抑郁症的临床疗效观察. 针灸临床杂志, 2003, 19(8): 28-29.

Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

Acupuncture versus Western Medicine for Depression in China: A Systematic Review

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