[Clinical observation on depression treated by electroacupuncture combined with western medicine]

To evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of depression treated by acupuncture and electroacupuncture combined with western medicine.

Seventy-five patients were randomly divided into 3 groups. In control group, 30 cases were treated by SSRI with oral administration; in observation group 1, 25 cases were treated by acupuncture therapy combined with SSRI, and Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Shendao (GV 11) and Zhiyang (GV 9) etc. were selected with regulating qi needling method; in observation group 2, same acupoints were selected with routine needling method, and 20 cases were treated by electroacupuncture therapy combined with SSRI, Baihui (GV 20) and Yintang (EX-HN 3) etc. were treated by electroacupuncture. The clinical therapeutic effects and Hamilton Depression Scale scores were evaluated after 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks treatment.

The total effective rates of observation group 1 and 2 were 100.0%, superior to that of 73.3% in control group (both P < 0.05). The total scores of HAMD on each time point dropped, and there were significant differences compard with those before treatment in 3 groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the total scores of HAMD after 1, 2 and 4 weeks improved more obviously than that in control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference among groups after 6 weeks (all P > 0.05). After one week treatment, the comparison of total scores of HAMD in observation group land 2 indicated significant differences (P < 0.05); after 2, 4 and 6 weeks treatment, there were no significant differences between groups (all P > 0.05).

The acupuncture therapy and electroacupuncture combined with western medicine for treating depression have better effects than medicine treatment; and there is no obvious difference between acupuncture therapy and electroacupuncture therapy, however, the effect works fast by electroacupuncture.