Traditional Chinese acupuncture and postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Tong P, Dong LP, Yang Y, Shi YH, Sun T, Bo P · Journal of the Chinese Medical Association · 2019 September

Objective

To date, the role of traditional Chinese acupuncture in mood disorders in the postpartum period is unclear. Thus, this study aimed to review the effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with postpartum depression (PPD).

Conclusions

Patients in the acupuncture group had significantly better performances assessed by the Hamilton Depression Scale than those in the control group. In addition, significantly better performance in the effective rate was observed in the acupuncture group than in the control group. Traditional Chinese acupuncture seems to be effective in improving some symptoms of PPD.

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Insights

Traditional Chinese acupuncture seems to be effective in improving some symptoms of postpartum depression.

A total of 887 PPD patients from 12 randomised controlled trials were included in the quantitative meta-analysis, with 443 patients in the treatment group and 444 patients in the control group. Patients in the acupuncture group had significantly better performances assessed by the Hamilton Depression Scale than those in the control group, and the pooled MD was −1.27 (95% CI: −2.55 to 0.01; p = 0.05, I2 = 83%) in the random-effect model. In addition, significantly better performance in the effective rate was observed in the acupuncture group than in the control group, and the pooled RR was 1.20 (95% CI: 1.09 to 1.33; p < 0.0001, I2 = 46%). However, in subgroup analysis for the acupuncture therapy alone, only effective rate showed a significantly better performance.