title: Randomized non-invasive sham-controlled pilot trial of electroacupuncture for postpartum depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postpartum depression affects 10-15% of mothers. Although acupuncture was efficacious for major depressive disorder in pregnancy and in women outside the perinatal period, there has been no randomized controlled study on the feasibility, tolerability, and efficacy of acupuncture for postpartum depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized, subject- and assessor-blind, parallel-group, sham-controlled trial. Twenty women within six months postpartum with DSM-IV-diagnosed major depressive disorder of mild severity, defined as a 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS(17)) score of 12 to 19, were randomly assigned to either electroacupuncture or non-invasive sham acupuncture two sessions weekly for four weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was significant reduction in HDRS(17) score from baseline to 4-week posttreatment in both groups, with an effect size 1.4 and 1.8 for electroacupuncture and sham acupuncture, respectively. Improvement was observed as early as two weeks after commencing acupuncture. The response and remission rate in the electroacupuncture group at 4-week posttreatment was 33% and 44%, respectively; for the sham acupuncture group, it was 60% and 50%, respectively. There was no significant between-group difference in all outcome measures, including the HDRS(17), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Clinical Global Impression, and Sheehan Disability Scale. Treatment credibility, success of blinding, and adverse events were similar between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small sample size and high attrition rate. No waiting list observation group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both electroacupuncture and non-invasive sham acupuncture were effective for postpartum depression. Further studies utilizing larger sample size, better recruitment strategies, and home-based acupuncture treatment are warranted.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Pilot Study on the Use of Acupuncture for Postpartum Depression; ClinicalTrials.gov Registration #NCT01178008; URL - http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01178008?term=postpartum+acupuncture&rank=1.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China. kfchung@hkucc.hku.hk
authors: Ka-Fai
authors: KF
authors: Chung
authors: Wing-Fai
authors: WF
authors: Yeung
authors: Zhang-Jin
authors: ZJ
authors: Zhang
authors: Kam-Ping
authors: KP
authors: Yung
authors: Sui-Cheung
authors: SC
authors: Man
authors: Chin-Peng
authors: CP
authors: Lee
authors: Siu-Keung
authors: SK
authors: Lam
authors: Tsin-Wah
authors: TW
authors: Leung
authors: Kwok-Yin
authors: KY
authors: Leung
authors: Eric Tat-Chi
authors: ET
authors: Ziea
authors: Vivian
authors: V
authors: Taam Wong
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome