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Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...
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Acupuncture for subthreshold depression: a randomized controlled trial.

Jin Xian1, Ling Wang2, Mi Sun2

  • 1Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250011, China.

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Summary

Acupuncture significantly improved symptoms in patients with subthreshold depression (SD) compared to a placebo. This study suggests verum acupuncture (VA) is an effective treatment for SD, offering benefits beyond sham acupuncture (SA).

Keywords:
AcupunctureRandomized clinical trialSubthreshold depression

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Area of Science:

  • Integrative and Complementary Medicine
  • Psychiatry and Mental Health
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Subthreshold depression (SD) presents a significant risk factor for developing major depressive disorder (MDD).
  • Acupuncture has shown potential for treating SD, but its efficacy compared to placebo requires further investigation.
  • This study aimed to clarify the therapeutic effects of verum acupuncture (VA) versus sham acupuncture (SA) for SD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of verum acupuncture (VA) compared to sham acupuncture (SA) in treating subthreshold depression (SD).
  • To determine if acupuncture provides therapeutic benefits for SD beyond a placebo effect.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized clinical trial was conducted involving participants diagnosed with SD.
  • Participants were randomized to receive either VA or SA for 8 weeks, followed by a 12-week follow-up period.
  • The primary outcome measure was the change in Hamilton Depression Scale-17 (HAMD-17) scores from baseline to week 8.

Main Results:

  • A total of 64 participants were included in the study, with 92.2% completing the trial.
  • The verum acupuncture (VA) group showed a significantly greater reduction in HAMD-17 scores (-7.28) compared to the sham acupuncture (SA) group (-3.80) at 8 weeks (P < .001).
  • The observed therapeutic effects of acupuncture for SD persisted through the 12-week follow-up, with no serious adverse events reported.

Conclusions:

  • Acupuncture demonstrates significant therapeutic effects for subthreshold depression (SD), surpassing placebo effects.
  • These findings support the use of acupuncture as a specific and effective treatment modality for SD.
  • Limitations include a single-center design and a relatively young participant sample, warranting caution in generalizing results.