title: Depressive neurosis treated by acupuncture for regulating the liver--a report of 176 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture for regulating the liver on depressive neurosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a multi-center randomized controlled trial, 440 patients were divided into 3 groups: Acupuncture group for regulating the liver (Acup., 176 cases) was treated by acupuncture at Siguan Points, i.e., bilateral Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) plus ear-acupuncture, Prozac group (P., 176 cases) by oral administration of Prozac, and Non-acupoint needling group (NAN, 88 cases) by acupuncture at non-acupoints as acupuncture placebo. Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) was examined before treatment, and one month, two and three months after treatment respectively to evaluate therapeutic effect, and Rating Scale for Side Effects (SERS) was used to evaluate the safety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After one month of treatment, SDS scores in Acup. Group were significantly lower than that in P. Group (P < 0.05) and than that in NAN Group (P < 0.01), and SDS scores in P. Group were lower than that in NAN Group (P < 0.05), showing the SDS scores in Acup. Group < P. Group < NAN Group. After 2 months of treatment, SDS scores in Acup. Group were also significantly lower than that in P. Group (P < 0.01) and than that in NAN Group (P < 0.01), and SDS scores in P. Group were also lower than that in NAN Group (P < 0.05), showing the SDS scores in Acup. Group <P. Group <NAN Group. After 3 months of treatment, SDS scores in Acup. Group were also significantly lower than that in P. Group (P < 0.01) and than that in NAN Group (P < 0.01), and SDS scores in P. Group were also lower than that in NAN Group (P < 0.01), showing the SDS score in Acup. Group < P. Group < NAN Group. After treatment, SERS scores were 0.16 +/- 0.95, 6.51 +/- 5.09 and 0.23 +/- 1.36 in Acup. Group, P. Group and NAN Group respectively. A significant difference existed between Acup. Group and P. Group (P < 0.05), but no significant difference between Acup. Group and NAN Group (P > 0.05), showing the SERS scores in Acup. Group < NAN Group < P. Group. No side effect was found in Acup. and NAN groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The therapeutic effect of acupuncture on depressive neurosis is better than or similar to that of Prozac but with less side effect.
authors: Guangdong Hospital of TCM, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors: Wen-bin
authors: WB
authors: Fu
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Fan
authors: Xiao-ping
authors: XP
authors: Zhu
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: He
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Li-xing
authors: LX
authors: Zhuang
authors: Yuan-sheng
authors: YS
authors: Liu
authors: Chun-zhi
authors: CZ
authors: Tang
authors: Ying-wen
authors: YW
authors: Li
authors: Chang-rong
authors: CR
authors: Meng
authors: Hong-lai
authors: HL
authors: Zhang
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Yan
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D005473:Fluoxetine