ArticleIntegrative medicine research2022
Electroacupuncture plus moxibustion for major depressive disorder: A randomized, sham-controlled, pilot clinical trial.
Article in Integrative medicine research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in animal models of depressive-like behaviors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2024Pooled it
- Efficacy and Safety of Electroacupuncture Combined with Agomelatine Tablets Therapy in Treating Insomnia After Stroke.Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN · 2025Trial
- Acupuncture: A Promising Non-Pharmacological Approach to Parkinson's Disease Management.Brain and behavior · 2026Review
- Mechanism-Driven Translation of Electroacupuncture for Depression: Bridging the Gap Between Preclinical and Clinical Research.Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment · 2026Review
- Electroacupuncture exerts neuroprotective effects and alters gut microbiota in a MPTP-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe first treatment option for major depressive disorder (MDD) is antidepressants, however, there is substantial demand for alternative therapies due to its low compliance and remission rates. This study was aimed to explore the effectiveness, safety, and feasibility of electroacupuncture plus moxibustion therapy for MDD.
methodsThirty adults with MDD were randomly assigned to the treatment group (TG) or control group (CG). The TG was treated with electroacupuncture plus moxibustion, and the CG received sham interventions at non-acupoints for 8 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the intergroup difference of the mean change of total score of the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HRSD) between baseline and week 9. Secondary outcome measures were Beck's depression inventory, insomnia severity index, the state-trait anxiety inventory, the EuroQol-5 dimension index, the measure yourself medical outcome profile version 2, and frontal alpha asymmetry measured by electroencephalography. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored for safety assessment.
resultsThe primary outcome measure was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.2641), although the scores of HRSD in both groups improved significantly after treatment. No significant difference was identified between groups in secondary outcome measures. The incidence of AE was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.1067).
conclusionA clinical trial using electroacupuncture plus moxibustion for MDD seems feasible. However, further studies with the larger size, adopting ideal controls are warranted to provide a confirmative conclusion to the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture plus moxibustion for MDD.
trial registrationThe protocol was registered at Korean Clinical Trial Registry (CRIS-KCT0001810).
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