A pragmatic randomised controlled trial from the UK has found that acupuncture combined with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) provides significant benefits for patients with depression. Seventy-six patients with depression were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the treatment group (TG) underwent acupuncture and received an SSRI, while the 26 patients in the control group (CG) received an SSRI only. Mean baseline depression scores were 22.2 and 22.1 in the TG and CG, respectively, but after the first week of treatment, the depression score for the TG had reduced to 15.6, significantly better than the score of 18.3 for the CG. This significant difference was maintained to the end of the six-week treatment period, when depression scores had fallen to 6.3 and 8.2 for the TG and CG.

Acupuncture combined with an antidepressant for patients with depression in hospital: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

Acupunct Med. 2014 May 7. [Epub ahead of print]).