Clinical Evidence for Association of Acupuncture with Improved Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials

Introduction: Depression is the most significant contributor to non-fatal health reductions worldwide. Acupuncture is the most commonly used complementary alternative therapy to relieve major depressive disorder (MDD) effectively. Nevertheless, the effects of acupuncture for MDD are uncertain. This review aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for MDD. Methods: Meta-analysis was performed for randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for MDD data from eight databases searched from inception until February 10, 2022. All RCTs with adult participants undergoing acupuncture treatment for MDD were included. The primary outcome measure was the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD). We used random-effects meta-analysis to synthesize the results with a mean difference or odds ratio. Furthermore, the potential heterogeneity was tested through meta-regression/subgroup analyses/sensitive analysis. The quality of evidence for each outcome was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Results: Forty-three studies were included: 9 acupuncture versus sham acupuncture (n = 920), 26 acupuncture versus antidepressants (n = 2169), and 9 acupuncture plus antidepressants versus antidepressants (n = 667). Of the 43 high-quality articles, 24 and 8 were determined to have a low and moderate risk of bias, respectively. The pooled results for HAMD and SDS revealed the clinical benefits of acupuncture or acupuncture plus antidepressants compared to sham acupuncture or antidepressants, with high-quality evidence. Furthermore, high-quality evidence showed that acupuncture led to fewer adverse effects than antidepressants. Conclusions: Acupuncture or acupuncture plus antidepressants were significantly associated with reduced HAMD scores, with high-quality evidence. Also, more rigorous trials are needed to identify the optimal frequency of acupuncture for MDD and integrate such evidence into clinical care to reduce antidepressant use.