Implementation of auricular acupuncture by the NADA protocol in geriatric patients suffering from major depression : A mixed methods feasibility study

The number of elderly patients with depression has steadily increased in recent years; therefore, new treatment options and therapy approaches are urgently needed to improve treatment in this patient group. The aim of this project was to evaluate the additional application of auricular acupuncture according to the NADA protocol in patients treated in a daytime ward in terms of acceptability and feasibility. A total of 20 psychogeriatric patients from a daytime clinic suffering from major depression (ICD-10: F32-F33) received auricular acupuncture in addition to the standard treatment three times per week over a treatment course of 3 weeks. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants and the therapeutic team and qualitative content analyses were carried out. Depression, cognition, quality of sleep and quality of life were assessed using validated quantitative instruments. There was a 95 % utilization of the therapy. The qualitative analysis showed a high acceptance by all participants. The dominant perception by the patients was a positive expectation and conviction that acupuncture was an effective form of therapy without side effects, which could contribute to recovery. The majority of patients also felt that there was an improvement in the symptoms. The quantitative analysis revealed significant improvements in the target parameters. The acceptance of the intervention by the patients and the willingness of the interdisciplinary team underlines the feasibility of this implementation within a fixed therapeutic concept. The significant pre-post improvements indicated a potential benefit and should be verified in further efficacy studies.