Acupuncture treatment for depression : an overview of systematic reviews

Abstract

Background:For more than 2000 years acupuncture has been used to treat depression and randomized controlled trials (RCT) have been conducted to investigate their efficacy.Objectives: The objectives of this overview is to assess the effects and adverse effects of acupuncture in patients with depression, and to evaluate the report quality of acupuncture treatment for depression in randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Search Strategy: Six different electronical databases were searched, combined with manual searches in journals of interest and reference lists. Selection Criteria:Systematic reviews and randomiced trials of acupuncture for depression compared to medication, waiting list, non-spesific acupuncture and placebo were included.Main Result:Four systematic reviews and eighteen RCTs were analyzed. The methodological quality of trials reports were generally low. A significant reduction in depression was found by electro-acupuncture compared to antidepressant medication.And a significant beneficial effects was found for classical acupuncture in improving and reducing depression compared to placebo. Conclusion: More rigorouse trials are needed and long-term effects should be investigated if acupuncture is to be recommended as one of the alternative treatments for depression.