Researchers at the University of Arizona have tested the value of acupuncture in the treatment of depression. 38 women aged 18 to 45 and suffering from major depression were divided into three groups. One group received eight weeks of acupuncture treatment specifically designed to target their depression. A second group waited for eight weeks and then received the treatment. A third group received a form of placebo acupuncture which was not designed to treat depression but rather headache or back pain, then received the depression-specific treatment for eight weeks. The symptoms of all three groups got better over time, but the group that immediately received the depression-specific treatment improved much more quickly, and once the other two groups got the specific treatment their symptoms also improved at a much faster rate. According to John Allen who led the study "These findings from a small sample of women with major depression suggest that acupuncture may hold sufficient efficacy to warrant a larger clinical trial". He said that although drugs and psychotherapy provide significant relief for 50 to 70 percent of patients, "about a third of people seeking treatment end that treatment prematurely, citing factors such as dissatisfaction with their current treatment or intolerable side effects. These statistics suggest that alternative treatments may be welcomed by those suffering from depression." (Psychological Science 1998;9:397-40).
A US study has shown that acupuncture achieves comparable results to current Western bio-medicine in the treatment of depression. The research, funded by the US Office of Alternative Health, focused on the treatment of 33 seriously depressed women, after Screening to eliminate any with psychotic or suicidal behaviour. The women were divided into 3 groups, each receiving different treatment protocols. Results showed that of those treated by acupuncture specifically for depression, over half experienced complete remission. The study was praised for its design by the Office of Alternative Health and was notable for avoiding a sham acupuncture group as a control, and for providing treatment tailored to the individual patient (Reported in USA Today 3/14/ 96).
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