title: Acupuncture-induced changes of vagal function in patients with depression: A preliminary sham-controlled study with press needles.
abstract: To study the biological effects of acupuncture on depression, we hypothesized that acupuncture will exert its antidepressant effect through a bottom-up neuromodulation of the autonomic dysfunction in depression. The participants received press needle (PN) acupuncture for 72 h continuously in a sham-controlled design. Psychological assessments and Holter electrocardiography were performed before and after PN acupuncture. We evaluated their autonomic functions through the heart rate variability (HRV). As a result, following PN acupuncture participants showed significant improvement in the Beck's Depression Inventory scores (P = 0.031), systolic/diastolic blood pressures (P = 0.002/P = 0.011), and coefficient of variation of the R-R interval (P < 0.0001), compared to sham PN. The present findings showed PN acupuncture induced alterations in vagal function, blood pressure, and Beck's Depression Inventory scores. It was suggested that vagal stabilization effect by acupuncture may be associated with the therapeutic mechanism in depression.
authors.affiliation: Kanagawa Psychiatric Center, 2-5-1 Serigaya, Kohnan-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 233-0006, Japan; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.affiliation: Kanagawa Psychiatric Center, 2-5-1 Serigaya, Kohnan-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 233-0006, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Izuno
authors.affiliation: Kanagawa Psychiatric Center, 2-5-1 Serigaya, Kohnan-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 233-0006, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.affiliation: Kanagawa Psychiatric Center, 2-5-1 Serigaya, Kohnan-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 233-0006, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayasaka
authors.affiliation: Kiiko Matsumoto Acupuncture Clinic, 1223 Walnut Street, Newton Highlands, MA, 02461, USA.
authors.forename: Kiiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Kanagawa Psychiatric Center, 2-5-1 Serigaya, Kohnan-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 233-0006, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: Kanagawa Psychiatric Center, 2-5-1 Serigaya, Kohnan-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 233-0006, Japan.
authors.forename: Arata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Kanagawa Psychiatric Center, 2-5-1 Serigaya, Kohnan-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 233-0006, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shinse
authors.affiliation: Kanagawa Psychiatric Center, 2-5-1 Serigaya, Kohnan-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 233-0006, Japan.
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Kanagawa Psychiatric Center, 2-5-1 Serigaya, Kohnan-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 233-0006, Japan. Electronic address: motoaki@motoaki.com.
authors.forename: Motoaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Autonomic function; Blood pressure; Holter electrocardiogram; Medication-resistant depression; Press needle acupuncture; Vagal function