title: Dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation for major depressive disorder--a single-blind, randomized, controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies suggest that electroacupuncture possesses therapeutic benefits for depressive disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS) could enhance the antidepressant efficacy in the early phase of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this single-blind, randomized, controlled study, patients with MDD were randomly assigned to 9-session DCEAS or noninvasive electroacupuncture (n-EA) control procedure in combination with fluoxetine (FLX) for 3 weeks. Clinical outcomes were measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), Clinical Global Impression-severity (CGI-S), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) as well as the response and remission rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-three patients were randomly assigned to n-EA (n = 35) and DCEAS (n = 38), of whom 34 in n-EA and 36 in DCEAS group were analyzed. DCEAS-treated patients displayed a significantly greater reduction from baseline in HAMD-17 scores at Day 3 through Day 21 and in SDS scores at Day 3 and Day 21 compared to patients receiving n-EA. DCEAS intervention also produced a higher rate of clinically significant response compared to n-EA procedure (19.4% (7/36) vs. 8.8% (3/34)). The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DCEAS is a safe and effective intervention that augments the antidepressant efficacy. It can be considered as an additional therapy in the early phase of SSRI treatment of depressed patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN88008690.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. zhangzj@hku.hk
authors.forename: Zhang-Jin
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Sui Cheung
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: Tsui Yin Jade
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Qing-Rong
authors.initials: QR
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Hei Kiu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Ka-Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Man-Tak
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Wai-Kiu Alfert
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Ka-chee
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ziea
authors.forename: Vivian Taam
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D005473:Fluoxetine