Synergistic and attenuated effects of electroacupuncture in patients with mild or moderate depression treated with paroxetine hydrochloride

Objective To observe the influences of electroacupuncture on the curative effect and reverse reactions of paroxetine hydrochloride in the treatment of mild or moderate depression.Methods The patients with mild or moderate depression(n=55) wer randomly divided into A group(treated with paroxetine hydrochloride,n=29) and B group(treated with electroacupuncture and paroxetine hydrochloride,n=26).The therapeutic course was 6 weeks.The total score changes of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for Depression(HAMD) and Rating Scale for Side Effects(SERS) were observed before treatment and after treatment for 1,2,4 and 6 weeks.Results The scores of HAMD showed that two weeks after the treatment in A group and one week after the treatment in B group,the difference was significant(P0.05) compared with those in the same group before the treatment.There was a significant difference in HAMD scores between two groups after the treatment for 2 weeks.The total effective rate was 71.4% in A group and 88.0% in B group with a significant difference(P0.05).The scores of SERS in B group showed a significant difference 4 weeks after the treatment compared with those before the treatment(P0.05),and the difference was greatly significant 6 weeks after the treatment(P0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can improve the curative effect of paroxetine hydrochloride and decrease its reverse reactions in the treatment of depression.