SynthesisCNS spectrums2026
Efficacy and influencing factors of acupuncture in major depressive disorder: a systematic review and exploratory network meta-analysis.
Synthesis in CNS spectrums, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Mechanism-Driven Translation of Electroacupuncture for Depression: Bridging the Gap Between Preclinical and Clinical Research.Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment · 2026Review
- Central Neurobiological Mechanisms of Acupuncture in Post-Stroke Depression: Multi-Target and Network-Based Regulation.Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAcupuncture is a clinically recognized treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), but the associations of efficacy with dosage, treatment course, frequency, acupuncture modality, needle retention time, and manipulation remain unclear. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for MDD and explored potential moderating factors.
methodsRandomized controlled trials of acupuncture for MDD were searched in CNKI, VIP Database, Wanfang Data, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from inception to May 2025. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2, and certainty of evidence using GRADE. Data were analyzed in Stata 18.0.
results36 trials involving 3843 participants were included. Compared with sham/placebo acupuncture, acupuncture showed greater antidepressant effects (SMD -1.12, 95% CI -1.57 to -0.67, P < 0.01). Very low-quality evidence suggested similar efficacy between acupuncture and antidepressants. Electroacupuncture was superior to manual acupuncture (SMD -0.24, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.07, P < 0.01). High- and moderate-dose acupuncture were more effective than low-dose regimens, and meta-regression suggested a linear dose-response relationship, with 30 sessions as the optimal dosage. Better outcomes were associated with treatment course >6 wk, 3 times weekly, needle retention time of 20-30 minutes, and electroacupuncture. No significant difference was found between needle manipulation and non-manipulation.
conclusionsAcupuncture significantly alleviates depressive symptoms in MDD. Efficacy appears to be influenced by dosage, acupuncture modality, treatment course, frequency, and needle retention time, with 30 sessions, treatment course > 6 wk, 3 sessions weekly, 20-30 minutes retention, and electroacupuncture showing the most favorable outcomes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.