[Assessment of effectiveness of electroacupuncture and fluoxetine for treatment of depression with physical symptoms].
OBJECTIVE
To study on clinical therapeutic effect and safety of electroacupuncture and Fluoxetine for treatment of mild or moderate depression with physical symptoms.


METHODS
Seventy-five cases were randomly divided into a western medicine group (group A), an electroacupunctue group(group B) and an electroacupuncture plus medicine group (group C), 25 cases in each group. The group A were treated by oral Fluoxetine, 20 mg each day; the group B by electroacupuncture with Baihui (GV 20) and Yintang (EX-HN 3) selected as main points; the group C by oral administration of Fluoxetine plus electroacupunctue. HAMD depression scale was used for assessment of clinical therapeutic effect and TESS adverse reaction scale was used for adverse reactions.


RESULTS
The clinical effective rate was 78.3% in the group A, 82.6% in the group B and 91.7% in the group C, with significant differences between group C and A, group C and B (P < 0.05). Groups B and C had significant therapeutic effects in improvement of physical symptoms, and the adverse reaction of Fluoxetine in the group C was less than that in the group A.


CONCLUSIONS
Electroacupuncture can significantly improve physical symptoms and relieve adverse reactions of Fluoxetine. Electroacupuncture combined with Fluoxetine has a better therapeutic effect on depression with mild or moderate physical symptoms, with less adverse reactions.
Duan
Dong-mei
DM
Section of TCM and Acupuncture, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, and Acupuncture College, Beijing University of TCM, Beijing, China. dongmei-d@hotmail.com
Tu
Ya
Y
Chen
Li-ping
LP
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D005473:Fluoxetine