[Acupuncture for treatment of depressive neurosis: a multi-center randomized controlled study].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on depressive neurosis.


METHODS
With a multi-center randomized controlled study, 440 cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group, a prozac group, a non-acupoint needling group. In the acupuncture group, Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3) were selected, and the Prozac group were treated with administration of 20 mg/d and the non-acupoint needling group were treated with needling the points deviating from the acupoints. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by HAMD score reduction rate, and Asberg's anti-depressant side-effect rating scale (SERS) and severe adverse reaction were used for safety evaluation, and the data were analyzed with ITT.


RESULTS
The total effective rate was 86. 4% in the acupuncture group, which was better than 59.1% in the non-acupoint needling group and 72.7% in the prozac group; HAMD score in the acupuncture group was similar to that in the Prozac group, which was better than that in the non-acupoint needling group; the SERS scores in the acupuncture group and the non-acupoint needling group were significantly lower than that in the Prozac group, with no severe side-effects found for acupuncture.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture is an effective and safe therapy for depressive neurosis; therapeutic effect of acupuncture on depressive neurosis possibly is better than or similar to that of Prozac, but with less side-effects.
Fu
Wen-bin
WB
Acupuncture Department of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM, Guangzhou 510120, China. Drfwb63@21cn.com
Fan
Li
L
Zhu
Xao-ping
XP
He
Qing
Q
Wang
Ling
L
Zhuang
Li-xing
LX
Liu
Yan-sheng
YS
Tang
Chun-zhi
CZ
Li
Ying-wen
YW
Meng
Chang-rong
CR
Zhang
Hong-lai
HL
Yan
Jie
J
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged