[Study on catgut implantation therapy compared with Deanxit for treatment of depression]

To compare the therapeutic effect of catgut implantation and Deanxit for treatment of depression.

Ninety-four cases of depression were randomly divided into a catgut implantation group (50 cases) and a medication group (44 cases). Catgut implantation group was applied with catgut implantation at Hanyan (GB 4), Baihui (GV 20), Shenmen (HT 7), Fenglong (ST 40), Taichong (LR 3), once two weeks, and 4 times in total. Medication group was treated with oral administration of Deanxit, for eight weeks in total. The the-rapeutic effects of both groups were compared with Hamilton Depression-17 Items Scale (HAMD-17) before and after treatment.

The scores of HAMD-17 were decreased after treatment in both groups (both P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between two groups after treatment (P>0.05). The total effective rate was 87.8% (43/49) in catgut implantation group and 90.7% (39/43) in medication group, with no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05).

Catgut implantation can effectively improve the symptoms of depression patients, with a similar therapeutic effect with Deanxit, and it has a better clinical compliance without any adverse effects.