Clinical Observation Of The Clinical Effects Of Acupuncture And Psychotherapy On Depression

Depressive disorder is a multifactor ailment, resulting from biological, psychological, social, environmental, and other factors. Its pathological changes involve multiple dimensions and the symptom of low mood can negatively impact the functioning of organs. Mental and physical factors are interrelated. Accordingly, depressive disorders are treated by multiple target therapies. While western medicine focuses on the biological and chemical attributes of the brain, Chinese medicine relies on the principles of blood/Qi and Yin/Yang, and psychotherapy suggests patients be treated via emotional and stress relief. Acupuncture coupled with psychotherapy, a concurrently physical and mental treatment, is an effective way to treat depressive disorders.ObjectiveObserve and compare the effects of psychotherapy and psychotherapy-pl us-acupuncture on depressive disorder, respectively, to explore the heali ng characteristics and differences of these two methods, as well as to an alyze the mechanisms effecting acupuncture and psychotherapy for the trea tment of depressive disorders. The66research subjects who suffered such an ailment were randomly divided into two groups;33of them were in a c ontrol group receiving psychotherapy only and the other33were in a trea tment group receiving acupuncture and psychotherapy. The meridians for ac upuncture in the treatment group include:Baihui (GV20), Sishencong(EX-HN1), Yintang(EX-HN3), Neiguan(PC6), Shenmen(HT7), Taichong(LR3), and Sanyi njiao(SP6). Supplementary points for specific symptoms:Benshen(GB13) and Shenting(DU24) for restless feelings; Xingjian(LR2) and Xiaxi(GB43) for liver fire ascending; Fenglong(ST40) and Neiting(ST44) for internal dist urbance due to phlegm heat; Xinyu(BL15) and Piyu(BL20) for deficiency of both heart and spleen; Taixi(KI3) for deficiency of Yin of both liver an d kidney; Xinyu(BL15) and Shenyu(BL23) for incoordination between heart a nd kidney; Xinyu(BL15) and Danyu(BL19) for Qi deficiency of the heart and gallbladder. For psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, person-centered therapy, cognitive therapy, stress management, emotional management, and interper sonal therapy were used. Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Self-Rating De pression Scale (SDS), and Complete-Effect Depression Scale (CDS), were a dopted before and after the treatment to compare and score the therapeuti c effects.ResultsAfter treatment, the scales adopted showed decreased figures for both groups and the difference reached statistical significance (P<0.05). Sig nificant differences (P<0.01) were found in HAMD and SDS when the test re sults before and after treatment were compared. The effective rate reache d96%in the acupuncture-and-psychotherapy group, while it was51%in the psychotherapy group, reaching a significant difference (P<0.01) between both groups.ConclusionBoth methods of acupuncture coupled with psychotherapy and psychother apy alone have therapeutic effects on depressive disorders. The acupunctu re-and-psychotherapy group is significantly superior to the psychotherapy group in "clinical effectiveness" and "therapeutic efficiency," as ar e the effects for "restless feelings,""anxiety,""mental and interpe rsonal stress,""low mood,""reduced appetite,""insomnia,""fatig ue and weakness," and "loss of interest." In addition, both acupuncture and psychotherapy help reduce reliance on medicine.