Efficacy And Safety Of Acupuncture For Depression: A Narrative Review Of The Evidence

Abstract

Depression is a common disorder which is associated with various other ailments. Many therapeutic options are available, including drugs and somatic therapies. Over the past decade, an increasing number of studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of acupuncture on depression. Acupuncture is a safe, feasible and effective treatment method in relieving the symptoms of depression. The basic science of acupuncture in TCM is to clear the blockages in the meridians and ensuring proper Qi flow. It also emphasizes in the individual treatment approach rather than generalisation. This review aims to provide an update and understanding of the acupuncture therapy on the disease.  It is found that acupuncture also helps to reduce the side effects of anti-depressants and an effective adjuvant therapy. To improve the clinical efficiency, an individualistic approach can be adopted, and acupuncture may be given as an individual therapy to improve the depressive symptoms. This review of the literature was conducted following the ‘Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles’ (SANRA) methodology for quality assessment.