The review of clinical studies on acupuncture treatment of major depressive disorders

Main Article Content

Yanin Tharabud
Wijittra Ektuwapranee

Abstract

Major depressive disorder is a global health problem that leads to causes of death in population, particularly individuals aged 15-29 years. The disease progression and its treatment processes can take several months to several years. Patients with depression can experience varying levels of severity, and it affects various aspects of their life. Currently, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an increasing role in the treatment of depression, and there have been studies and research on the mechanisms, efficacy, and safety of acupuncture treatment for major depressive disorder. Different techniques or methods of acupuncture treatment for depression have been found. This article aims to summarize research findings on the treatment of major depressive disorder via acupuncture from Chinese research database to assess its effectiveness in treating depression and improving the quality of life. The intention is to provide an option for treating depression with TCM.

Article Details

Section
Review Article

References

Boldrini M, Mann JJ. Depression and suicide. In: Zigmond MJ, Wiley CA, Chesselet MF, editors, Neurobiology of Brain Disorders. 2nd ed. New York: Elsevier Inc; 2022. p. 861-83.

Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation. Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2023 Jan 14]. Available from: https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/

World Health Organization. Depression [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2023 Jan 16]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression

Ministry of Public Health International Health Policy Program 2017. Report of burden of disease and injuries among the Thai population in 2013 [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2023 Jan 16]. Available from: http://bodthai.net/en/download/burden-of-diseases-and-injuries-of-thai-population-in-2014-english-report-151118-np_final/

Hauser SL, Beal MF. Neurology and psychiatry. In: Longo DL, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Huaser SL, Jameson JL, Loscalzo J, editors, Harrison’s principles of internal medicine vol.2. 18th ed. New York: ‎McGraw Hill Medical; 2012. p. 3536-7.

Luo HC, Meng FQ, Ja YK. Clinical research on the therapeutic effect of the electro-acupuncture treatment in patients with depression. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. 2014;52(S6):338-40. (in Chinese)

Wu GH. Clinical study on improving the quality of life of patients with mild to moderate depression by acupuncture and moxibustion [Dissertation]. Department of Acupuncture and Tuina. Guangzhou: Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2017. (in Chinese)

Chanapan N. Patients with major depressive disorders: Nurses’ Role in promoting for patients’ Self care. Journal of Nursing Science Chulalongkorn University. 2020;32(1):77. (in Thai)

Pusomsri P. Major depressive disorder, serious health Issue closes to us. EAU Heritage Journal Science and Technology. 2020;14(2):51-8. (in Thai)

New Chinese-English dictionary of traditional Chinese medicine. 2nd ed. Beijing: China Medical Science Press; 2013.

Zhou ZY. Internal Chinese Medicine. 3rd ed. Beijing: China Traditional Chinese Medicine Publishing House; 2017.

Wu D, Gao Y, Xiang H, Xing J, Tian JS, Qin XM. Research progress on depression and mechanism of anti-depressant Chinese material medica based on PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 2019;50(18):4461-9. (in Chinese)

Su LJ, Wang J, Liu XE, Wang QX. Study on anti-depression effect of Xiaochaihu decoction and its effect on neurotransmitters, neurotrophic factor and estrogen in brain. Chinese Archives of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2020;38(9):38-40. (in Chinese)

Xu LY. Clinical study on the treatment of depression with the combination of tuina which unblocking Du meridian and regulating spirt and the medicine [Dissertation]. Guangzhou: Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2016. (in Chinese)

Shi XM. Acupuncture. 6th ed. Beijing: China Traditional Chinese Medicine Publishing House; 2007. (in Chinese)

Liu X, Bao JF. The functions of neurogenesis in the occurring and developing of depression. Chinese Journal of Cell Biology. 2019;41(6):1184-92. (in Chinese)

Yang LD, Wu YM. Research progress of the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of depression. World Latest Medicine Information. 2018;18(92):53-4. (in Chinese)

Wang N, Fu XY, Zhang F, Jiang YF, Yang S, Mo M, et al. Relationships of thyroid hormone and proBDNF with depression. Chinese General Practice. 2020;23(9):1100-4. (in Chinese)

Zhang R. Effect on the expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TSH in serum of depressive rats with chronic unpredictable mild stress treated by electro-acupuncture acupoints “Jieyu” formula [Dissertation]. Shanxi: Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2019. (in Chinese)

Chen WL, Yan XR, Gao XP, Song GH. Research progress on the regulatory mechanism of intestinal flora in the occurrence of depression. Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine. 2022;32(10):130-5. (in Chinese)

Qin LN. Mechanism of electro-acupuncture on depressive rats digestive system [Dissertation]. Department of Acupuncture and Tuina. Beijing: Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2007. (in Chinese)

Hu QQ. Clinical observation on treatment of mild and moderate depression with “He Tiao Du Ren An Shen Acupuncture” [Dissertation]. Department of Acupuncture and Tuina. Heilongjiang: Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2022. (52). (in Chinese)

Zhu Y. Study clinical study on acupuncture treatment of liver-qi stagnation depression [Dissertation]. Changchun: Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2018. (in Chinese)

Wang Y. The clinical effectiveness of electro-acupuncture in treating depression related insomnia [Dissertation]. Guangzhou: Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2018. (in Chinese)

Zhang AJ. Clinical study on the treatment of mild and moderate depression with acupuncture and moxibustion for warming yang and expelling pathogenic factors [Dissertation]. Shanghai: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2019. (in Chinese)

Zhao WB. Clinical observation on treatment of depression of QiYu-HuaHuo-Type by Tong Du Xie Gan acupuncture manipulation [Dissertation]. Heilongjiang: Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2022. (in Chinese)

Wang H. The safety and efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of depression. China health standard management. 2018;9(14):99-101. (in Chinese)

Xu P. Clinical observation on treatment of depression of mild and moderate liver depression with spleen insufficiency by Pei-Tu-Kai-Yu acupuncture manipulation [Dissertation]. Beijing: Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2019. (in Chinese)

Li M. Clinical observation on treatment of depression by Chinese combined with western medicine. Guangming Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2022;37(14):2636-8. (in Chinese)

HX. Clinical efficacy observation of acu-therapy of balancing and adjusting Ren and Du on mild to moderate depression patients with the syndrome of liver-depression and spleen-deficiency [Dissertation]. Guangzhou: Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2019. (in Chinese)

Gao QH, Tan YQ. Clinical observation on treatment of depression by Jian-Pi-Shu-Gan electo-acupuncture manipulation and effectiveness on serum cytokine. New World Journal of Medical Information. 2018;18(11):135-9. (in Chinese)