The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has designated April 7th as World Health Day, with this year’s focus on depression. In recognition of this important day, our posts today will discuss depression and it’s treatment.

According to the results of the 2010 Global Burden of Disease study, depressive disorders rank 2nd in terms of global disability.

 Recently researchers from Taiwan conducted a meta-analysis of randomized trials in which the effects of antidepressant medications for adults diagnosed with depressive disorder was compared to a combination therapy of antidepressant medications plus acupuncture. The initial literature search yielded 661 possibly relevant research papers, which eventually was narrowed down to 13 studies, with a total of 1046 subjects.

Types of acupuncture included electro-acupuncture, manual acupuncture, and acupuncture with moxibustion. The number of acupuncture sessions varied from 9 to 36 with most treatment regimens lasting about six weeks. Various antidepressants were used including amitriptyline, fluoxetine, and paroxetine. Outcome measures included the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD-17) and the self-rating depression scale (SDS), among others.

What the researchers found after their analysis of the 13 different randomized trials was that the combination of acupuncture plus medication is more effective than medication alone, for the treatment of depression in the first six weeks.

 Given depression’s massive burden to both the individual and society it would seem acupuncture may warrant some consideration as an add-on treatment to conventional therapy. Acupuncture is generally well tolerated and may help mitigate side effects of antidepressant medications as well.

(Source- Journal of Affective Disorders, 176 (2015))

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone.