Acupuncture and Counselling for Depression: A Pilot Study
Author Information
Author(s): Sylvia Schroer, Hugh MacPherson
Primary Institution: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
Hypothesis
Can acupuncture or non-directive counselling improve treatment outcomes for patients with depression compared to usual care?
Conclusion
The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture and counselling for depression, but recruitment and attendance issues were significant challenges.
Supporting Evidence
- Depression is a common reason for primary care consultations.
- Acupuncture is a popular but poorly evidenced treatment for depression.
- Many patients with depression also experience pain, complicating treatment.
Takeaway
This study is trying to see if acupuncture or talking therapy can help people with depression feel better when they also get regular doctor care.
Methodology
A pilot pragmatic randomized controlled trial with five arms comparing acupuncture, non-directive counselling, and usual care.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the researchers' involvement in acupuncture practice.
Limitations
Challenges included poor recruitment rates and high attrition, leading to missing data.
Participant Demographics
Participants were adults diagnosed with depression in primary care.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p ≤ 0.0001
Statistical Significance
p ≤ 0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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