Therapeutic Effect of Acupuncture Combined with Antidepressants on Changes In The HAMD-17 Score in Major Depressive Disorder

A Almi_¹, H Mihardja^1*, A Srilestari¹ and N Amir²

¹Department of Medical Acupuncture, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia
²Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

The effectiveness of antidepressant medications ranges from 60%–70%, and serious side effects can occur; therefore, various therapeutic modalities have been developed, including acupuncture. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture and antidepressant with that of sham acupuncture and antidepressant in patients with major depressive disorder assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17). A single-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted in 48 patients with major depressive disorder allocated to the intervention (acupuncture and antidepressant) and control (sham acupuncture and antidepressant) groups.  The mean HAMD-17 scores in the intervention group before and after treatment were 22.2 ± 3.38 and 7.3 ± 2.64, respectively, whereas those in the control group before and after treatment were 21.4 ± 3.10 and 9.3 ± 3.33, respectively. A significant decrease in the mean HAMD-17 scores was observed between the intervention and control groups before and after 12 therapy sessions (14.9 ± 2.45 to 12.2 ± 4.30; p < 0.005). Thus, acupuncture and antidepressant was more effective in reducing the symptoms of major depressive disorder than was sham acupuncture and antidepressant.

ABSTRAK

Efektivitas dari obat antidepresan berkisar antara 60-70% , dan efek samping yang serius dapat muncul; sehingga, modalitas terapi yang beragam telah ditemukan, termasuk akupunktur. Studi ini berfokus pada membandingkan efektivitas akupunktur dan obat antidepresan dengan akupunktur sham dan obat antidepresan pada pasien gangguan depresi mayor menggunakan Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17). Uji klinis acak tersamarkan dilakukan pada 48 pasien dengan gangguan depresi mayor dialokasikan pada grup intervensi (akupunktur dan antidepresan) dan grup kontrol (akupunktur sham dan antidepresan). Rata-rata dari skor HAMD-17 pada grup intervensi sebelum dan sesudah terapi adalah 22.2 ± 3.38 dan 7.3 ± 2.64, sesuai dengan urutan, dibandingkan dengan grup kontrol sebelum dan sesudah terapi adalah 21.4 ± 3.10 dan 9.3 ± 3.33, sesuai dengan urutan. Terdapat perbedaan penurunan rata-rata skor HAMD-17 yang signifikan ketika diobservasi antara grup intervensi dan grup kontrol sebelum dan sesudah 12 sesi terapi (14.9 ± 2.45 hingga 12.2 ± 4.30; p < 0.005). Terapi akupunktur dan obat antidepresan ternyata lebih efektif mengurangi gejala dari gangguan depresi mayor dibandingkan dengan terapi akupunktur sham dan obat antidepresan.