Characteristics of electroacupuncture in anti-depression treatment

Objective To observe the total curative effects of electroacupuncture and fluoxetine in the treatment of depression for 6 weeks,investigate the relief of symptoms in the patients and analyse the effective characteristics of two therapies.Method The patients with depression(n=60) were randomly divided into the electroacupuncture group and control group.The electroacupuncture group was treated with normal needling at the first in the acupoints of Baihui(GV 20) and Yintang(EX-HN 3),and then stimulated with HANS electroacupuncture instrument after obtaining qi(2/15 Hz for 30 minutes and once a day) for 6 weeks.The control group was treated with fluoxetine(20 mg/d) for 6 weeks.Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD) was used to review the patients of two groups before the treatment and 2,4 and 6 weeks after the treatment.Result After 6 weeks there was no significant difference in the total curative effect between two groups(P0.05).In the electroacupuncture group the relief of factors of anxiety/ somatization and dyssomnia was different significantly to those in the control group(P0.05) 2 and 4 weeks after the treatment.In the control group the relief of retardation factor is different significantly to that in the electroacupuncture group(P0.05) 2 and 4 weeks after the treatment,but there was no significant difference in the above factors between two groups 6 weeks after the treatment(P0.05).There was no significant difference in the factors of cognitive disorder and body weight between two groups(P0.05) at all time points.Conclusion Electroacupuncture and fluoxetine have the same curative effect on depression,but have different characteristics,that is,2 and 4 weeks after the treatment the former has more significant effects on dyssonmia and anxiety/somatization,and the latter has more significant effect on retardation factor.Two therapies have the same effects on all factors until 6 weeks after the treatment.