Comparison Of The Efficacy Of Electroacupuncture And Hand Acupuncture In The Treatment Of First - Episode Depression

BACKGROUND:Depression is a common and recurrent mood disorder. Currently the antidepressants in western medicine have been still used as the first-line treatment, but it has some defects including slower effect and side-effect. Although psychotherapy is also applied widely in depression abroad, patients in China have low acceptability to the treatment for its high cost and the longer term treatment, which easily result in poor compliance and low treatment rate. In recent years, a growing number of reports about electro-acupuncture or simple acupuncture for depression had obtained curative effect. However, there is few researches comparing electro-acupuncture with simple acupuncture for depression. Consequently their differences are still unclear. Meanwhile acupuncture for first-episode depression has not been reported. Therefore, we made the following study to observe the efficacy of electro-acupuncture vs simple acupuncture for depression.OBJECTIVE:This study aims to observe the different clinic efficacy of electro-acupuncture vs simple acupuncture for depression in order to provide basis for further clinical or experimental trials.METHODS:All 22 subjects diagnosed as first episode depression came from acupuncture department of Guanganmen Hospital.They were randomized into 2 groups (treatment group and control group).10 patients in treatment group were treated by electro-acupuncture and 12 patients in control group were treated by simple acupuncture. Two groups have the same point:Baihui, Sishencong, Taiyang, Yingtang, Hegu. Simple acupuncture group didn’t need hand-manipulating. We put electro-acupuncture apparatus (SDZ-V type) on the needle handle of 4 points(Baihui, Yingtang and double Taiyang) and chose waveform selection continuous wave as well as pulse frequency of 1Hz. Both of the two goups consisted of 6-week sessions(3 times per week). Outcome measures which include the scores of HAMD, HAMA, SDS, SAS of all participants were collected at similar time points (baseline,2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks post intervention) to evaluate the onset and short-term effects. The score of the seven-factor of Hamilton rating of depression scale (HAMD-24) and 2-factor of Hamilton rating of anxiety scale (HAMA) were also analyzed before and after treatment. Finally we select appropriate statistical methods to analyze the results of the observation.RESULTS:1. Scores of HAMD, SDS and SAS scales showed no significant difference before and after 6-weeks’treatment in electro-acupuncture group as well as simple acupuncture group(P<0.05).2.The comparison of scores of HAMD, SDS and SAS scales showed no significant statistical difference in both groups after 6-weeks’treatment(P>0.05), while scores of HAMA scales showed significant statistical difference (P<0.01).3.The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05, n=10) when comparing electro-acupuncture with simple acupuncture on the score of anxiety somatization and sleep disorder. The scale scores of spiritual anxiety factor in HAMA decreased obviously after treatment and showed significant statistical difference in both groups(P<0.05, n=10), while showed no difference in somatic anxiety factor (P>0.05).4.Scores of HAMD scale showed significant difference before and after 2-weeks’ treatment in electro-acupuncture groups (P<0.05).5. After one course of treatment, one case (10%) were markedly improved,7 cases(70%) improved,2 cases (20%) ineffective and total effective rate 80% in electro-acupuncture group, while 5 cases(50%) improved,5 cases (50%) ineffective and total effective rate 50% in simple acupuncture.CONCLUSION:1.The effects of electroacupuncture and hand acupuncture on the patients with first episode depression and anxiety symptoms may be improved.2.Electro-acupuncture group might be better than simple acupuncture group in improving anxiety, sleep disorder and mental anxiety factor scores, besides Electro-acupuncture may take effect rapidly in 2 weeks after treatment.3.Electro-Acupuncture and simple acupuncture therapy also may have a certain improvement in the first episode depression with anxiety symptoms.