Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Depressed Patients Not Taking Antidepressant Medications

NCT ID: NCT01634022

Last Updated: 2012-07-06

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

64 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-05-31

Study Completion Date

2011-11-30

Brief Summary

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Acupuncture is a popular complementary/alternative therapy that has been in use for thousands of years for the treatment of various medical and psychiatric conditions, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). In this study, the investigators applied the investigators acupuncture-treatment-for-depression protocol, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles for treating MDD, to depressed patients not taking any antidepressant medications (a protocol that the investigators previously piloted as a medication augmentation therapy for partial responders with MDD).

The investigators specifically investigated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of this TCM-based protocol for such patients, as well as potential differences in outcomes between weekly vs. twice-weekly treatment. The investigators hypothesized that acupuncture monotherapy would be associated with a response rate of at least 50%, which the investigators defined as a decrease in depressive symptoms from the beginning to the end of the study of 50% or more, and that the response would be greater among patients who received acupuncture 2 times per week (vs. 1 time per week). The investigators also hypothesized that acupuncture would be associated with minimal side effects.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Depression

Keywords

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Acupuncture Antidepressant Monotherapy Depression Alternative treatments

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Acupuncture

Adults with depression who are not currently taking an antidepressant medication.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Acupuncture

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

5 specific body acupoints (HT-7 and LI-4 on the hands bilaterally, and ST-36, SP-6, and LR-3 on the legs bilaterally) with gentle manual tonification every 10 min. Two acupoints along the midline of the head, GV-20 and GV-24.5 (Yintang), were also used with a 2 Hz current applied from GV-20 (-) to GV24.5 (+).

Interventions

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Acupuncture

5 specific body acupoints (HT-7 and LI-4 on the hands bilaterally, and ST-36, SP-6, and LR-3 on the legs bilaterally) with gentle manual tonification every 10 min. Two acupoints along the midline of the head, GV-20 and GV-24.5 (Yintang), were also used with a 2 Hz current applied from GV-20 (-) to GV24.5 (+).

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Has current or past DSM-IV MDD diagnosis based on SCID; AND current 17-Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (BRSD) score of 14 or above
* Age between 18-65
* No treatment with antidepressant(s) in the past 3 months
* If patient has received psychotherapy, no initiation or termination of therapy in the past 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients with primary diagnosis other than Major Depressive Disorder, or any history of psychosis or mania.
* Conditions that could make it difficult to conclusively determine that depressive symptoms were the result of MDD and not some other condition, including substance abuse or dependence within the last 6 months, medical conditions that could produce depression, including epilepsy, history of an abnormal EEG, severe head trauma, or stroke.
* Serious uncontrolled medical conditions \[e.g. poorly controlled diabetes, severe congestive heart failure\], or other medical conditions that have not been stable for at least 3 months.
* Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) during the last year.
* Current active suicidal or self-injurious potential necessitating immediate treatment.
* Currently receiving concomitant Acupuncture Treatment, or any Acupuncture treatment in the past three months.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Albert Yeung

Director of Primary Care Research, Depression Clinical and Research Program

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Albert Yeung, MD, ScD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital

Locations

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Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Mischoulon D, Brill CD, Ameral VE, Fava M, Yeung AS. A pilot study of acupuncture monotherapy in patients with major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord. 2012 Dec 10;141(2-3):469-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2012.03.023. Epub 2012 Apr 21.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22521855 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2004P002819

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id