The effectiveness of acupuncture for depression--a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
The evidence from controlled trials is insufficient to conclude whether acupuncture is an effective treatment for depression, but justifies further trials of electroacupuncture.
Mukaino
Yoshito
Y
Department of Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, UK. mukaino@fukuoka-u.ac.jp
Park
Jongbae
J
White
Adrian
A
Ernst
Edzard
E
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome