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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Influence of Emotional Factors on the Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment for Overweight Complicated with Hyperlipidemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
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Influence of Emotional Factors on the Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment for Overweight Complicated with Hyperlipidemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

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Acupuncture as a complex intervention for depression: a consensus method to develop a standardised treatment protocol

Hugh MacPherson1, Sylvia Schroer

  • 1Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom. hm18@york.ac.uk

Complementary Therapies in Medicine
|June 5, 2007
PubMed
Summary

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Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)·2019

Standardizing acupuncture treatment for depression in clinical trials is feasible using a consensus method. This approach ensures consistent intervention components for reliable research outcomes in complex treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Integrative Medicine
  • Clinical Trial Methodology
  • Mental Health Research

Background:

  • Complex interventions require standardization for reliable clinical trials.
  • Acupuncture is a potential treatment for depression, but its application varies.
  • Defining specific treatment components is crucial for intervention fidelity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To standardize the characteristic components of acupuncture treatment for depression.
  • To define specific intervention elements for a randomized controlled trial (RCT).
  • To utilize a consensus method for standardizing complex interventions.

Main Methods:

  • A nominal group technique was employed to identify and refine intervention components.
  • Potential components were generated from literature, experts, and participants.

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  • Practitioners rated components in two rounds to achieve consensus.

    • Main Results:

    • Group consensus was reached on 16 active management components, 3 auxiliary techniques, and 5 lifestyle support areas.
    • Eight theoretical diagnostic and treatment frameworks underpinned the intervention.
    • Consensus on components increased, and deviation from the median decreased across rounds.

    Conclusions:

    • Standardizing acupuncture intervention components for depression RCTs is feasible using a consensus approach.
    • The developed method is generalizable to other clinical situations and treatment modalities.
    • This standardization enhances the reliability and validity of complex intervention research.