Acupuncture Improves Depression in Pregnant Women
At a recent annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Pregnancy Meeting, presenters revealed the findings that show acupuncture may be an effective treatment for depression during pregnancy.
“Depression during pregnancy is an issue of concern because it has negative effects on the mother and the baby as well as the rest of the family,” said Dr. Schnyer, one of the study’s authors.
Even though depression in pregnant women occurs on the same level as it does among women of the same age who aren’t pregnant and women during the postpartum (after birth) period, fewer treatment studies have been conducted on pregnant depressed women.
The developing baby and mother are affected by anti-depressant treatment.
In the study, 150 participants who were diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder were randomly placed in either a group that received acupuncture specific treatment for depression , or one of two active controls: control acupuncture (they didn’t receive acupuncture specific treatment, but another form of acupuncture) or massage .
The mothers received 12 sessions during an eight week period. Junior acupuncturists unaware of the treatment group assignment needled participants at points prescribed by senior acupuncturists. The mother’s symptoms of depression were rated at the beginning, after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment.
The women receiving acupuncture specific treatment for depression experienced a significantly greater decline in the severity of depression compared to both control groups or the non-specific acupuncture group alone. They also had a higher response rate (63%) than the combined controls or control acupuncture alone. The reduction of symptoms and response rates between the control groups did not differ significantly.
Mild and temporary side effects were reported in 43 of the 150 participants (20 in the depression specific group, 19 in the non-specific group and 4 in the massage group). Notably fewer participants reported side effects in the massage group than in the two acupuncture groups.
“The results of our study show that the acupuncture protocol we tested could be a viable treatment option for depression during pregnancy” said Dr. Schnyer.
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