Acupuncture for depression
Research One
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture treatment on depressive symptoms and myalgia in patients with hepatitis.
METHODS:
Of 44 patients with hepatitis screened for depression and myalgia, 28 were enrolled and included in the study. The main outcome measure for depressive symptoms was Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI). For pain/myalgia, patients rated their pain on a scale from 0 to 10. Practitioners assigned patients exceeding the cut-off point in either BDI or myalgia scores to acupuncture treatment.
The Chinese method of acupuncture was used. Treatment continued for 6 weeks.
Patient receiving Acupuncture for Depression
RESULTS:
At baseline, 17/44 patients (39%) had a BDI score ≥17 and 24 (55%) had a pain score ≥5. Acupuncture treatment effectively engaged 28 patients, divided into three groups: Group 1 (13 patients with high BDI ≥17 and high myalgia scores ≥5), Group 2 (11 patients with low BDI but high myalgia scores), and Group 3 (4 patients with high BDI but low myalgia scores). All patients fully adhered, completing all sessions without dropouts. End-treatment BDI and myalgia scores significantly improved compared to baseline levels.
CONCLUSION:
Acupuncture seems to be a promising treatment for patients with hepatitis. Larger studies actively confirm acupuncture’s therapeutic role across diverse populations.
Research Two
Acupuncture for Depression
P04.56. Acupoint versus non-acupoint injection of antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Acupoint injection of interferon-alpha showed a significantly better effect on the loss of serum HBeAg than intramuscular injection (RR 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10 to 1.70; 3 trials). Similarly, acupoint injection of interferon-alpha was better than intravenous infusion for loss of serum HBeAg (RR 2.38, 95% CI 1.17 to 4.83; 3 trials). However, there was no significant difference between acupoint and intramuscular injection of interferon-alpha in terms of the loss of serum HBsAg or HBV DNA. Acupoint injection of poly I-C, or matrine showed beneficial effects on loss of serum HBeAg compared with intramuscular injection. Acupoint injection of antiviral drugs did not report extra adverse effects from the included trials.