Central Mechanism Involved In Acupuncture Depression Based On FMRI Study

Objective:This study aimed at evaluating the clinical effect of acupuncture treatment for patients with depression,and observing the changes of amplitude of low frequency fluctuation(ALFF) of patients with the application of magnetic resonace imaging(fMRI) technology during resting-state,in order to explore the central mechanism on treating depression with acupuncture.Methods:16depression patients were randomly assigned into Group A(8Patients) and Group B(8Patients).Group A was treated with drugs and acupuncture,and the Group B was treated with drugs and sham-acupuncture.Patients of two groups received treatment for12weeks.The following outeome measurements were assessed at0,4,8and12weeks:Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD),Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA),etc.Depression patients received fMRI scan before and after treatment.Results:l.The clinical effect of two groups before and after treatment:①HAMD:Two groups had statistical significance(P<0.05),and Group A began a significant difference from the first four weeks(P<0.05).②SDS:Two groups had statistical significance(P<0.05),and no significant difference was found between two groups after4,8weeks treatment(.P>0.05),but there was significant difference between two groups after12weeks(P<0.05).③HAMA and SAS:Two groups had statistical significance(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference between two groups(P>0.05).2.Cerebral activities’s features in depression patients:①The difference of Group A in cerebral activities before and after treatment:the ALFF of ACC,eft OFC,left putemen,HIPP/paraHIPP and right MPFC were significantly increased,but the ALFF of insula and thalamus were significantly decreased.②The difference of Group B in cerebral activities before and after treatment:the ALFF of right ACC and left OFC were significantly increased,but the ALFF of right insula were significantly decreased.③The difference of Group A and Group B in cerebral activities after treatment:the ALFF of ACC,OFC,left putemen and HIPP/paraHIPP were significantly increased,but the ALFF of right insula,right crebellum,right middle temporal,left dlPFC,right temporal pole and left curcus were significantly decreased.Conclusion:1.Group A was more significantly effective than Group B,showing that acupuncture can be effective in improving patient depression as a synergistic therapy.2.There were difference in cerebral activities between two groups.Group A caused more cerebral activities suggested it was better than Group B in central mechanism and had specific effects.3.It may be the central mechanism of acupuncture treatment depression that acupuncture adjusted the limbic system-cortex-striatum-hypothalamic neural pathways.