The effect of electroacupuncture on the first-episode depression

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of first-episode depression. Methods 101 patients with first-episode depression who were hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from May 2011 to May 2012 were selected. According to the random number method, they were divided into acupuncture group (51 cases, including 21 males and 30 females), and the pure drug group (50 cases, 23 males and 27 females). The pure drug group was only treated with paroxetine, and the acupuncture group was combined with electroacupuncture on the basis of paroxetine (electroacupuncture 1 time/day, 6 days per week, and 4 weeks in total), and the changes of the HAMD scores of the patients in the two groups after 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks were observed by one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Results The differences in the factor scores of the HAMD total scores, retardation and hopelessness between the two groups were statistically significant (F=6.234, 9.344, 14.245, all P<0.05); the effect comparison at different time points, There were statistically significant differences in factor scores of somatic anxiety, cognitive impairment, and insomnia between the two groups after 1 week t=-3.042, -3.349, all P<0.05), The differences in HAMD total scores, and the factor scores of cognitive impairment, retardation and hopelessnes between the two groups after 2 weeks were statistically significant(t=5.888, -3.632, -2.835, -4.666, all P<0.05), There were statistically significant differences in HAMD total scores, and the factor scores of somatic anxiety, cognitive impairment, retardation and hopelessness between the two groups after 4 weeks(t=4.166, 4.047, 4.047, 7.484, 8.558, all P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of electroacupuncture therapy and drug can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of most patients with depression. Key words: Depression; Paroxetine; Electroacupuncture