title: Schizophrenia and Depression: A systematic Review of the Effectiveness and the Working Mechanisms Behind Acupuncture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This systematic review assessed clinical evidence for the use of acupuncture as an add-on treatment in patients with depression and schizophrenia and for its underlying working mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four databases (Medline, Scopus, ERIC, and the Cochrane Library) were searched with a cutoff date of March 31, 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of acupuncture treatment for depression and schizophrenia were considered for inclusion. The scarcity of acupuncture research involving schizophrenia led to the inclusion of randomized controlled trials and case studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary and secondary aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of acupuncture in treating patients with depression or schizophrenia and the possible working mechanisms underlying acupuncture through a systematic literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall clinical results on using acupuncture to treat depression are promising, but only limited evidence for its effectiveness in treating schizophrenia was found. Acupuncture improves the quality of life, particularly that of sleep, in psychiatric patients. Brain research has revealed that acupuncture has a modulating and normalizing effect on the limbic-paralimbic-neocortical network (LPNN), including the default mode network. Because the LPNN is related to sleep and emotions, this might explain the improved qualities of life and sleep after acupuncture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the evidence found in this study, acupuncture seems to be an effective add-on treatment in patients with depression and, to a lesser degree, in patients with schizophrenia, but large well-designed studies are needed to confirm that evidence.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cognition, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Postbus 9104, Montessorilaan 3, Nijmegen 6525 HR, The Netherlands; LVR-Klinik Bedburg-Hau, Bedburg-Hau, Germany; Division of Acupuncture & Meridian, WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine, East-West Medical Research Institute and School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: P.Bosch@donders.ru.nl.
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.affiliation: Division of Acupuncture & Meridian, WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine, East-West Medical Research Institute and School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maurits
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van den Noort
authors.affiliation: LVR-Klinik Bedburg-Hau, Bedburg-Hau, Germany.
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Staudte
authors.affiliation: Division of Acupuncture & Meridian, WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine, East-West Medical Research Institute and School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012890:Sleep
keywords: Acupuncture; Depression; Emotions; Schizophrenia; Sleep disorders