Effect of Electroacupuncture on Treating the First-episode Depression

Summary

Depression is a disease that endangers the physical and mental health of all human beings. Only 30-40% of patients with initial episode depression are cured after treatment with antidepressants. Acupuncture is a widely recognized therapy to treat depression in clinical practice, and it can effectively relieve the depressive mood and improve related physical symtoms in patients with mild to moderate depression. This randomised controlled trial (RCT) is aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment for patients with the first-episode of mild to moderate depression.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participants who meet the diagnostic criteria of depression according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
2. Participants whose HDRS-17 score is 17-25 (mild-to-moderate depression).
3. Participants who suffer from depression for the first time.
4. Patients who have not taken any previous antidepressants.
5. Patients who are assessed as low risk for suicide.
6. Participants who have not received acupuncture treatment for at least 1 year.
7. Participants who voluntarily agree with the investigation and sign a written informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Participants with secondary depressive disorders caused by organic diseases, medicine or psychotic disorders.
2. Participants who are in the depressive episode of bipolar disorder, or suffering from dysthymia, reactive depression and depressive syndrome caused by other diseases.
3. Participants who had severe organic brain diseases and other serious physical diseases.
4. Participants with a history of alcohol abuse or drug dependence.
5. Participants who have enrolled in other clinical trial within 1 months.
6. Pregnant or lactating women.

Conditions1

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