[Observation on therapeutic effect of combination of acupuncture with drug on depression]

To assess clinical therapeutic effect and safety of acupuncture combined with fuxiting on depression.

Fifty-three cases of depression were divided into an observation group (n = 30) treated by acupuncture combined with fuxiting and a control group treated by fuxiting. Their clinical therapeutic effects were assessed by HAMD, HAMA and CGI, and adverse effects by TESS.

After treatment of 6 weeks, the total effective rate was 80.0% in the observation group and 69.6% in the control group with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in scores of HAMD and HAMA before and after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The adverse effect in the observation group was less and milder than that in the control group.

Acupuncture combined fuxiting has good therapeutic effect on depression with less and mild adverse effects.