Observation on Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture plus Psychological Intervention for Postpartum Depression

Objective： To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus psychological intervention for postpartum depression. Methods： By random number table, 85 patients with postpartum depression were divided into a treatment group and a control group. Forty-three cases in the treatment group were treated by acupuncture plus psychological intervention, once every day, five sessions per week, and rest at weekend. Forty-two cases in the control group were treated by oral administration of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride, 20 mg, once per day. The two groups were treated continuously for six weeks. The change of the score in Hamilton depression scale （HAMD） was observed and the therapeutic effect was summarized. Results： The total effective rate was 90.7% in the treatment group and 90.5% in the control group. The difference in the total effective rate between two groups was not statistically significant （P〉O.05）. In the intra-group comparisons of HAMD scores two, four and six weeks after treatment in both groups with those before treatment, the differences were statistically significant （all P〈0.05）. In comparison between the two groups at the same time point, the differences in HAMD scores were not statistically significant （all P〉0.05）. Regarding the adverse events, 5 cases had nausea, 3 cases had dizziness, and 6 cases had poor appetite in the control group; no obvious adverse events happened in the treatment group. Conclusion： Acupuncture plus psychological intervention for postpartum depression is as same as oral administration of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride in therapeutic effects, but it does not have adverse reaction.