Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Depressed Patients Taking Antidepressant Medications - Full Text View

Purpose

In this research study, the investigators piloted a uniform acupuncture treatment protocol among adults with depression who were taking an antidepressant medication that was providing only partial or no symptom alleviation. The study's aims were evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of acupuncture augmentation treatment among this population. The investigators hypothesized that acupuncture as an augmentation treatment would be associated with a response rate of at least 50%, which the investigators defined as a decrease in depressive symptoms from the beginning to the end of the study of 50% or more, and that the response would be greater among patients who received acupuncture 2 times per week (vs. 1 time per week). The investigators also hypothesized that acupuncture would be associated with minimal side effects.

Condition	Intervention
Depression	Procedure: Acupuncture

Study Type:	Interventional
Study Design:	Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment Masking: Open Label Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title:	Effectiveness of Acupuncture Augmentation on Treatment Resistant Depressed Patients

Resource links provided by NLM:

MedlinePlus related topics: Acupuncture Acute Bronchitis Antidepressants Depression

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by Massachusetts General Hospital:

Primary Outcome Measures:

Response to acupuncture augmentation treatment, defined as a change in scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, 17 items (HAM-D-17) from baseline to endpoint. [ Time Frame: Baseline and all acupuncture sessions (weekly) for 8 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
The HAM-D-17 is a clinician-rated measure of patient depressive symptoms (structured interview). Higher cumulative scores indicate more severe depression. A 50% or greater reduction in HAM-D-17 from baseline to endpoint was considered representative of our hypothesized acupuncture-augmentation response rate of at least 50%.

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Evidence of acupuncture augmentation's tolerability and acceptability, as determined clinically by the participant and study doctor. [ Time Frame: Once per acupuncture session (weekly) for 8 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Enrollment:	45
Study Start Date:	August 2007
Study Completion Date:	April 2010
Primary Completion Date:	April 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Arms	Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Acupuncture All participants received open acupuncture augmentation treatment per the uniform acupuncture treatment protocol that we developed according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles for treating depression (see Intervention Description).	Procedure: Acupuncture Our acupuncture treatment protocol included: HT-7 and LI-4 on the hands bilaterally, and ST-36, SP-6, and LR-3 on the legs bilaterally, with gentle manual tonification every 10 minutes; and GV-20 and GV- 24.5 (Yintang), along the midline of the head.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:	18 Years to 65 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:	Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Ages 18-65
A HAM-D-17 score of >= 14
Partial or nonresponse to a standard antidepressant (monotherapy or combination) at an adequate dose over the past 8 or more weeks (natural agents such as omega-3 fatty acids, St John's wort, SAMe, and folic acid, were allowed as antidepressants)
Concurrent psychotherapy was allowed, provided that it was not initiated within the 3 months prior to study entry.

Exclusion Criteria:

A primary diagnosis other than major depressive disorder, or any history of psychosis or mania
Conditions that could make it difficult to conclusively determine that depressive symptoms were the result of major depression and not some other condition, including any form of substance abuse or dependence within the last 6 months, other medical conditions that could be the basis of a depression (including epilepsy, history of an abnormal EEG, severe head trauma, or stroke)
Serious uncontrolled medical conditions (e.g. poorly controlled diabetes, severe congestive heart failure), or other medical conditions that had not been stable for at least 3 months
Having had electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) during the past year
Current active suicidal or self-injurious potential necessitating immediate treatment.

Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01633996

Locations

United States, Massachusetts
Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114

Sponsors and Collaborators

Massachusetts General Hospital

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

Albert Yeung, MD, ScD

Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital

More Information

Publications:

Yeung AS, Ameral VE, Chuzi SE, Fava M, Mischoulon D. A pilot study of acupuncture augmentation therapy in antidepressant partial and non-responders with major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord. 2011 Apr;130(1-2):285-9. Epub 2010 Aug 6.

Responsible Party:	Albert Yeung, Director of Primary Care Research, Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT01633996 History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers:	2002-P-001899
Study First Received:	June 15, 2012
Last Updated:	July 2, 2012
Health Authority:	United States: Institutional Review Board

Keywords provided by Massachusetts General Hospital:

Acupuncture
Antidepressant
Augmentation
Depression

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Depression
Depressive Disorder
Behavioral Symptoms
Mood Disorders
Mental Disorders

Antidepressive Agents
Psychotropic Drugs
Central Nervous System Agents
Therapeutic Uses
Pharmacologic Actions

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on June 13, 2013