Acupuncture and Depression: Acupuncture Has the Same Effect as Counseling, Study Finds

A new study suggests that performing acupuncture is also as beneficial as counseling to patients suffering from moderately severe depression.

Hugh Macpherson, lead author of the study from the University of York in U.K, and his colleagues recruited 755 people diagnosed with moderate to severe depression. The participants were divided into three groups: 302 individuals to receive weekly acupuncture sessions, 302 participants to receive weekly counseling sessions, and 151 participants to receive the usual care only. The sessions were carried out for 12 weeks.

Before the first week of the sessions, the researchers assessed the depression level of the subjects in which they found that the average depression score was 16 on a scale of 0 to 27 – higher scores means severe depression. A score of 16 is considered moderately severe depression.

After the 12-week testing period, the researchers reevaluated the depression levels of each group. Those who underwent acupuncture treatment scored 9 in average, falling on the “mild depression” category. Those who went through counseling scored 11 while those who had the usual care scored 13 in an average, both fall under the “moderate depression” category.

The participants were followed for three months after the sessions to see its lasting effects. Those who went through acupuncture and counseling showed lesser signs of depression compared to those who received usual care. Thus making them believe that acupuncture provides the same benefits that counseling gives.

"For people who have depression, who have tried various medical options, who are still not getting the benefit they want, they should try acupuncture or counseling as options that is now known to be clinically effective,” Macpherson told Reuters.

The study was published in the Sept. 24 issue of the online journal PLOS Medicine.

While this study suggests an alternative treatment for depression, acupuncture is not covered by health care as a treatment for depression. Acupuncture in the U.S covers only chronic pain or nausea. It is not a cure as well, the researchers advised the participants to continue using their medications after the study.

"Cleary acupuncture is a new option," MacPherson said. "This is the first evidence that acupuncture really helps."

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