Acupunct Med. 2018 Oct;36(5):339-342. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2017-011473. Epub 2018 Mar 14.
The aim of this study was to explore the effects of acupuncture on mild postpartum depression (PPD).
15 patients diagnosed with PPD were enrolled in the study. Patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria received acupuncture therapy eight times over 4 weeks in the form of two 20-min treatment sessions per week. The treatment site was the BL67 acupuncture point (on the outside of the fifth toenail). After disinfecting the skin on the toes, sterile steel needles were gently inserted into the acupuncture point until the patient started to feel numb or swollen, a sensation known as . Acupuncture was performed by the same doctor using HuanQiu stainless steel needles that were 0.2 mm in diameter and 40 mm in length. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate the clinical effects of this therapy. Questionnaires were distributed to patients before therapy and 1 week after therapy and were immediately completed and checked.
Treatment was associated with symptomatic improvement for all patients who adhered to therapy. The nine patients who completed treatment had an average pain score of 6.66 (SD 0.86); these patients' average pre-treatment pain score was 10.83 (SD 1.47). Six patients who did not complete treatment had an average pain score of 11.23 (SD 1.48); the average pre-treatment pain score of these patients was 10.5 (SD 2.21). Thus, symptoms did not significantly improve for patients who failed to adhere to the therapy. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to HAMD score before treatment (P=0.363). By contrast, asignificant between-group difference in post-treatment HAMD score was detected (P=0.001). Two patients discontinued treatment due to haemorrhage at the site of needling, and four patients discontinued treatment due to the inconvenience of traffic. There were no significant complications.
Acupuncture therapy at BL67 may alleviate symptoms of mild PPD, however controlled clinical investigations are required to confirm its efficacy and effectiveness for this condition.
本研究旨在探讨针刺治疗轻度产后抑郁症（PPD）的效果。
纳入 15 名符合 PPD 诊断的患者。符合纳入标准的患者接受每周两次，每次 20 分钟的针刺治疗，共 8 次，疗程为 4 周。针刺穴位为 BL67（第五趾外侧）。在对脚趾皮肤进行消毒后，将无菌钢针刺入穴位，直到患者开始感到麻木或肿胀，这种感觉称为. 由同一位医生使用直径为 0.2 毫米、长 40 毫米的环球不锈钢针进行针刺。采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）评估该疗法的临床疗效。在治疗前和治疗后 1 周向患者发放问卷，立即完成并检查。
所有坚持治疗的患者症状均有改善。完成治疗的 9 例患者平均疼痛评分为 6.66（SD 0.86）；这些患者治疗前的平均疼痛评分为 10.83（SD 1.47）。未完成治疗的 6 例患者平均疼痛评分为 11.23（SD 1.48）；这些患者治疗前的平均疼痛评分为 10.5（SD 2.21）。因此，未坚持治疗的患者症状无明显改善。两组治疗前 HAMD 评分无统计学差异（P=0.363）。而治疗后 HAMD 评分两组间有显著差异（P=0.001）。因针刺部位出血，2 例患者停止治疗；因交通不便，4 例患者停止治疗。无明显并发症。
BL67 针刺疗法可能缓解轻度 PPD 的症状，但需要进行对照临床试验以确认其对该病症的疗效和有效性。
