Curative effect of acupuncture on quality of life in patient with depression: a clinical randomized single-blind placebo-controlled study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of acupuncture on the quality of life in patients with depression by clinical randomized single-blind placebo-controlled study.Methodsone hundred and sixty-three cases of depression according with the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a group of acupuncture dredging liver and regulating flow of theosophy (group 1), a group of acupoint shallow stab (group 2) and a group of non-acupoint shallow stab (group 3) at 1:1:1 ratio, and treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, and intradermal embedding of needle, twice a week, for a total of 12 weeks. Scale of Quality of Life (SF-36) was used to measure the scores at four different time points and evaluate the effect of acupuncture on the quality of life of the patients with depression.ResultsAt each time point after treatment, in scores of the 8 items, physical function, physical role, bodily pain, general physical condition, energy, social function, emotional function and mental health there were statistically significant differences among the 3 groups (P < 0.0125).ConclusionAcupuncture can effectively improve the quality of life of patients with depression.