OBJECTIVE: To summarise the existing evidence on acupuncture as a therapy for depression. METHODS: RCTs were included, in which either manual acupuncture or electroacupuncture was compared with any control procedure in subjects with depression. Data were extracted independently by two authors. The methodological quality was assessed. Pre and post means and SDs for depression specific measures were extracted, when available, for meta-analysis. RESULTS: Seven randomised comparative trials involving 509 patients were included. The evidence is inconsistent on whether manual acupuncture is superior to sham, and suggests that acupuncture was not superior to waiting list. Evidence suggests that the effect of electroacupuncture may not be significantly different from antidepressant medication, weighted mean difference -0.43(95% CI -5.61 to 4.76). There is inconclusive evidence on whether acupuncture has an additive effect when given as an adjunct to antidepressant drugs. CONCLUSION: The evidence from controlled trials is insufficient to conclude whether acupuncture is an effective treatment for depression, but justifies further trials of electroacupuncture.
OBJECTIVE: To summarise the existing evidence on acupuncture as a therapy for depression. METHODS: RCTs were included, in which either manual acupuncture or electroacupuncture was compared with any control procedure in subjects with depression. Data were extracted independently by two authors. The methodological quality was assessed. Pre and post means and SDs for depression specific measures were extracted, when available, for meta-analysis. RESULTS: Seven randomised comparative trials involving 509 patients were included. The evidence is inconsistent on whether manual acupuncture is superior to sham, and suggests that acupuncture was not superior to waiting list. Evidence suggests that the effect of electroacupuncture may not be significantly different from antidepressant medication, weighted mean difference -0.43(95% CI -5.61 to 4.76). There is inconclusive evidence on whether acupuncture has an additive effect when given as an adjunct to antidepressant drugs. CONCLUSION: The evidence from controlled trials is insufficient to conclude whether acupuncture is an effective treatment for depression, but justifies further trials of electroacupuncture.
Authors: Jongbae Park; Klaus Linde; Eric Manheimer; Albrecht Molsberger; Karen Sherman; Caroline Smith; Joseph Sung; Andrew Vickers; Rosa Schnyer Journal: J Altern Complement Med Date: 2008-09 Impact factor: 2.579
Authors: Courtney Lee; Cindy Crawford; Dawn Wallerstedt; Alexandra York; Alaine Duncan; Jennifer Smith; Meredith Sprengel; Richard Welton; Wayne Jonas Journal: Syst Rev Date: 2012-10-15
Authors: Hugh MacPherson; Stewart Richmond; J Martin Bland; Harriet Lansdown; Ann Hopton; Arthur Kang'ombe; Stephen Morley; Sara Perren; Eldon Spackman; Karen Spilsbury; David Torgerson; Ian Watt Journal: Trials Date: 2012-11-14 Impact factor: 2.279