Acupuncture in patients with minor depression or generalized anxiety disorders - Results of a randomized study

In a placebo-controlled, randomized, modified double-blind study we investi gated the effects of body needle acupuncture (n = 10) in 43 patients with m inor depression (ICD 10 F32.0, F32.1) and 13 patients with generalized anxi ety disorders (ICD10 F41.1). The severity of the disease was assessed by th e Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). Treatment response was defined as a significant improvement in CGI. An intent-to-treat analysis was performe d to compare treatment responses between verum- and placebo acupuncture. Af ter completing an total of 10 acupuncture sessions the verum acupuncture gr oup (n = 28) showed a significantly larger clinical improvement compared to the placebo group (Mann-Whitney test,p < 0.05). There were significantly m ore responders in the verum-compared to the placebo group (60.7 % vs. 21.4 %; chi-square test, p < 0.01). In contrast, no differences in the response rates were evident just after 5 acupuncture sessions. A multivariate analys is with the independent factor acupuncture (verum vs, placebo) and the resu lts of the results of the additional rating scales (total score of MAMA, HA MD, Bf-s, BL) as dependent variables (ANOVA, 1;54 D.F.) revealed a clear tr end towards lower HAMA scores in the verum group after completing 10 acupun ctures (F3.29, p = 0.075). This corresponds well to the high response rate of 85.7 % in patients with generalized anxiety disorders, in whom verum acu puncture was applied. Our results indicate that needle acupuncture (Du.20, Ex.6, He.7, Pe.6, Bl.62) leads to a significant clinical improvement as wel l as to a remarkable reduction in anxiety symptoms in patients with minor d epression or with generalized anxiety disorders. The total sum of acupunctu re sessions and the specific location of acupuncture needle insertions migh t be important factors for bringing about therapeutic success.