Observation of the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for postpartum depression

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture for postpartum depression group.

A total of 84 participants were allocated into the acupuncture (n = 59) and blank control (BC; n = 25) groups. Participants in the acupuncture group received acupuncture therapy twice a week for 16 sessions in total, while participants in the BC group received no medical intervention. The primary outcomes were the response and elimination rates. The secondary outcome measures were the scores of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS17) and the factor analysis of the HDRS17.

Compared to the BC group, the acupuncture group showed significant improvement in response and elimination rates (both P < 0.05). A significant difference at week 8 was found in the between-group HDRS17 score alterations [RR = －3.04, 95% CI (－5.16, －0.92), P < 0.05]. In addition, the reduction in depression and insomnia in the acupuncture group was greater than that in the BC group [between-group difference, depression: RR =1.20, 95% CI (0.14, 2.26), P < 0.05; insomnia: RR = 0.89, 95% CI (0.16, 1.62), P < 0.05]. There were no severe adverse events in our study.

Acupuncture alleviated the severity of postpartum depressive symptoms compared to the control condition, and no serious adverse events occurred during the treatment.