Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for depression: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Chen, Binglei; Wang, Carol; Lee, Khui Hung; Xia, Jianhong; Luo, Zongting

doi:10.1002/nur.22284

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…In previous reviews ( Wang et al, 2008 ; Zhang et al, 2010 , 2023 ; Armour et al, 2019 ; Chen et al, 2022 ), it was acknowledged that acupuncture, either alone or as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment, offers clinical benefits and can be considered as a safe therapeutic option for depression. However, many past reviews have had significant limitations concerning disease classification, inclusion criteria, and basis assessment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of acupuncture for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Tan,

Duan,

Wen

2024

Front. Neurosci.

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IntroductionDepression is a pervasive mental health challenge with substantial global ramifications. Contemporary therapeutic strategies predominantly consist of psychological interventions and pharmacological treatments. Acupuncture, deeply rooted in ancient traditions and bolstered by a plethora of clinical trials, demonstrates considerable efficacy in depression. This study aims to elucidate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture as a standalone therapy for depression patients by reviewing randomized controlled trials that compare acupuncture treatment with conventional drug therapy.MethodsComprehensive searches were conducted across six databases in both Chinese and English: CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Embase, Medline, and CENTRAL. The literature search spanned from 1 July 2013, to 1 July 2023. Two researchers independently carried out literature screening and data extraction. Review Manager 5.4 was utilized for data analysis and bias risk assessment. A total of 20 randomized controlled trials were included in the qualitative synthesis, involving 1,376 participants and 43 relevant acupoints.ResultsThe Meta-analysis results, based on the HAMD scale scores, revealed that acupuncture regimens (RR: −1.63; 95% CI: −2.49 to −0.76; P = 0.0002; I2 = 86%; n = 1,668) were significantly more effective compared to standalone medication. Moreover, efficacy metrics from the HAMD highlighted a substantial advantage of acupuncture (RR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.6 to 4.23; P = 0.0001; I2 = 0; n = 614). Further assessments utilizing SERS and TESS demonstrated a lower incidence of side effects and adverse outcomes in the acupuncture group.ConclusionsAcupuncture, when compared to conventional pharmacotherapy, exhibits significant efficacy as a standalone treatment after four weeks of intervention, with fewer side effects and adverse reactions. However, further investigation is needed to determine the most effective acupoints and appropriate types of acupuncture techniques for treating depression.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023443711.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of acupuncture for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Tan,

Duan,

Wen

2024

Front. Neurosci.

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“…Additionally, after the combination therapy the signi cant differences in urinary speci c metabolites including malonic acid (fatty acid biosynthesis), glutathione (glutamate metabolism), cysteine (glutamate metabolism), tryptophan (tryptophan metabolism were observed [18]. A systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that acupuncture, either in isolation or as a complementary therapy and along with pharmacological therapy, can be safe and effective for depression management [30]. A meta-regression of randomized controlled trials showed a direct association between the number of acupuncture sessions and symptom improvement in depressed individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of an Anti-inflammatory Diet Alone or in Combination with Acupuncture on Mental Health, Anthropometric Indices, and Metabolic Status in Diabetic Patients with Depression: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Namazi,

Irandoost,

Firouzjaei

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background The present clinical trial examined the efficacy of an anti-inflammatory diet combined with acupuncture to an anti-inflammatory diet alone and common treatment in depressed patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 90 patients with T2DM suffering from mild to moderate depression were included. They were randomly allocated to one of 3 groups: (i) acupuncture and anti-inflammatory diet, (ii) anti-inflammatory diet alone, and (iii) standard treatment, and followed for 8 weeks. Two sessions/week of acupuncture therapy were considered for the combination therapy group. Mental health (depression, anxiety), biochemical parameters, dietary intake, and anthropometric indices were measured at baseline and the end of the trial. Results Of 90 diabetic patients, 83 subjects completed the intervention. Acupuncture therapy with diet decreased depression and anxiety by 20% (p < 0.05 for both) at the end of the trial. The combination therapy decreased WC (p = 0.04) HbA1C (p = 0.008), and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations (p = 0.02) compared to diet alone. Conclusion Our findings showed that acupuncture along with an anti-inflammatory diet can be more effective in improving mental health, HbA1C, and abdominal obesity compared to an anti-inflammatory diet alone in diabetic patients with mild to moderate depression after 8 weeks. However, more clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer duration are recommended to confirm the efficacy of this adjuvant therapy.

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“…Compared to manual acupuncture, EA offers improved control over stimulation parameters, as well as greater repeatability and objectivity ( 13 ). There is emerging evidence indicating the therapeutic potential of EA in addressing psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression ( 14 – 17 ). EA has also been used in PPD treatment, showing specific therapeutic benefits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture in patients with postpartum depression: a meta-analysis

Fang,

Wang,

Zheng

et al. 2024

Front. Psychiatry

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ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD).MethodsWe systematically retrieved relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, EMBASE, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Chinese Biological Medical Database, and the Wanfang database from their inception to November 2023. The outcomes measured were the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores, adverse events (AEs), and the total response rate. The study aimed to estimate heterogeneity, publication bias, mean difference (MD), and risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsThis study included 12 RCTs with a total of 1364 participants (571 in the treatment group and 793 in the control group) for analysis. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that EA did not significantly reduce HAMD (MD = 1.49, 95% CI = [−0.30, 3.27], P = 0.1, I2 = 0%) and EPDS (MD = 1.12, 95% CI = [−1.62, 3.85], P = 0.42, I2 = 32%) scores compared to sham EA among patients with PPD, resulting in low heterogeneity. In terms of the total response rate, the EA group exhibited superior results compared to the placebo group (RR = 1.77, 95% CI = [1.15, 2.74], P = 0.01, I2 = 0%) and the sham EA group (RR = 1.2, 95% CI = [1.02, 4.4], P = 0.02, I2 = 0%), with statistical significance and low heterogeneity. The incidence of AEs was lower, also with low heterogeneity (RR = 0.9, 95% CI = [0.57, 1.43], P = 0.66, I2 = 12%).ConclusionThe current evidence indicates that the effectiveness and safety of EA in the treatment of PPD warrant affirmation. However, EA does not demonstrate superiority over sham EA in reducing HAMD and EPDS scores in patients with PPD. Due to the limited quantity and quality of curent research, the above conclusion should be further validated through high-quality studies to confirm the efectiveness of EA in PPD management.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=318917, identifier CRD42023318917.

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Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for depression: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Cited by 6 publications

References 78 publications

Efficacy of acupuncture for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Efficacy of acupuncture for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The Effects of an Anti-inflammatory Diet Alone or in Combination with Acupuncture on Mental Health, Anthropometric Indices, and Metabolic Status in Diabetic Patients with Depression: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture in patients with postpartum depression: a meta-analysis

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