[Comparative study on abdominal acupuncture and western medicine for treatment of menopause depressive disorder].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the therapeutic effects between abdominal acupuncture and Deanxit for treatment of menopause depressive disorder, and to explore the efficacy and safety of abdominal acupuncture.


METHODS
Sixty cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each. The observation group was treated with abdominal acupuncture at Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Qihai (CV 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4), etc. The control group was treated with oral administration of Deanxit. The patients in both groups were treated for 4 weeks and followed up for another 4 weeks, and they were evaluated by Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) every couple weeks.


RESULTS
The total HAMD scores of 2 and 4 weeks treatments and 2 and 4 weeks follow-up were all reduced in both groups (all P < 0.01). The total scores of 2 and 4 weeks follow-up in observation group were lower than those in control group, with significant differences in statistical analysis (both P < 0.05). Compared with the clinical therapeutic effect of both groups after 4 weeks treatment, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05), however, after 4 weeks follow-up, the therapeutic effect in observation group was superior to that in control group, with significant difference in statistical analysis (P < 0.05). The safety indexes before and after treatment of both groups were normal, and the adverse reaction rate in observation group was much lower than that in control group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal acupuncture is an effective and safe method for menopause depressive disorder, it improves the menopause depressive symptoms with persistent action, less symptoms relapse and adverse reactions.
Department of Gynecology, The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of TCM, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China. jiaoshouw@163.com
Xiao-Yun
XY
Wang
Xiao-Yu
XY
Li
Ai-Jing
AJ
Deng
Zhi-Yun
ZY
Bo
D000005:Abdomen; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005475:Flupenthixol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged
D000873:Anthracenes; D004338:Drug Combinations; C000851:flupentixol, melitracen drug combination; D005475:Flupenthixol