Clinical Observations on Acupuncture and Moxibustion plus SSRIs for the Treatment of Depression

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion plus SSRIs in treating depression.Methods Eighty depression patients were randomly allocated to a medication group of 30 cases treated with SSRIs alone,an acupuncture plus medicine group of 25 cases treated with acupuncture plus SSRIs and a moxibustion plus medicine group of 25 cases treated with acupuncture and moxibustion plus SSRIs.The HAMD scale score was counted in the three groups before treatment and at 1,2,4 and 6 weeks after.The therapeutic effects were evaluated using the HAMD scale.Results The total efficacy rate was 100.0% in both the moxibustion plus medicine and acupuncture plus medicine groups.There was a statistically significant difference compared with the total efficacy rate(83.3%) in the medication group(P0.01).The HAMD score was significantly lower at 1,2,4 and 6 weeks after treatment in the moxibustion plus medicine and acupuncture plus medicine groups than in the medication group(P0.01).The HAMD score reduction rate was larger from the second week in the moxibustion plus medicine group than in the acupuncture plus medicine and medication groups.There was a statistically significant difference in the score reduction rate(P0.05).Conclusions Acupuncture and moxibustion plus SSRIs are more effective than SSRIs alone in treating depression and produce a quick effect.Acupuncture plus SSRIs has a similar therapeutic effect,but acupuncture and moxibustion plus medicine have a certain advantage in relieving the patient's depression and decreasing the HAMD scale score.