Electroacupuncture for Major Depression

Electroacupuncture for Major Depression: A Pilot Study

This study will compare the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of electroacupuncture (EA) and sham electroacupuncture (SA) for the treatment of major depression.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depressive Disorder; Depression
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Electroacupuncture; Procedure: Sham

Detailed Description

Major depression is a common and serious mental illness. It is associated with a markedly lower quality of life, significant functional impairment, and premature death due to suicide or comorbid physical illness. Over the past 50 years, effective and safe treatments for major depression have been developed, including antidepressant pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. However, many Americans who suffer from a depressive disorder either do not elect to receive one of these conventional treatments or do not complete an adequate course of treatment. A growing number of Americans with depression are choosing to be treated with complementary and alternative therapies. Acupuncture, in particular, is increasingly being used to treat depression even though only limited data support its safety and efficacy.

This study will use a randomized parallel-group design to compare the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of electroacupuncture (EA) and sham electroacupuncture (SA) for the treatment of major depression. Over a 15-month period, 60 adult outpatients with a major depressive disorder of mild or moderate severity (as defined by the DSM-IV) will be randomized to either 12 sessions of EA or SA to be provided over 6 weeks. Safety and symptomatic improvement (as measured with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [HRSD]) will constitute the primary outcome measures. Tolerability and functional improvement will constitute secondary outcome measures.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 57
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
      • UPMC Shadyside, Center for Complementary Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Meet SCID criteria for a Major Depressive Disorder (Single or Recurrent) with a current major depressive episode of mild or moderate severity
• Significant symptoms of depression (HRSD > 14)
• Ability to communicate in English
• Give informed consent in accordance with local IRB regulations

Exclusion Criteria:

• Personal physician's recommendation against enrollment because the patient is physically unstable or for other reasons
• Having been treated with acupuncture for any condition
• History of seizure disorder or significant risk factors for a seizure disorder (e.g., history of brain trauma, recent stroke, or brain tumor)
• Need to remain on antidepressant or other psychotropic medications
• Absence of depressive symptoms severe enough (i.e., HRSD < 14) at the baseline assessments
• Significant cognitive impairment, as assessed by a total score on the MMSE < 25. A recommendation for referral to a neurologist or a psychiatrist will be made to the patient in these cases.
• Chronic major depression (i.e, duration of 2 years or longer) A recommendation for referral to a psychiatrist will be made in these cases.
• Major depressive episode severe or severe with psychotic features (as per DSM-IV/SCID) or with acutely suicidality. A recommendation for psychiatric referral will be made in these cases. Bipolar disorder, psychotic features, or a psychotic disorder (specifically: schizophrenia, delusional disorder, or schizoaffective disorder). A recommendation for psychiatric referral will be made in these cases.
• Met criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol substance abuse or dependence within the past six months. A recommendation for referral to a mental health professional will be made in these cases.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 1; Electroacupuncture (EA).	Procedure: Electroacupuncture; For subjects randomized to EA, needles were placed at points GV-20-on the crown of the head and yin tang-on the midline of the forehead roughly at the glabella and treated with electrical stimulation. 30 mm x 0.22 mm sterile stainless steel needles were placed obliquely to a depth of approximately 10 mm and were connected to face-microelectrodes which were connected to the Pantheon Research PENS-Electrostimulator. Electricity was provided at a frequency of 2 Hz and set to a voltage which resulted in the perception of a mild intensity stimulation.
Placebo Comparator: 2; Sham	Procedure: Sham; For subjects randomized to SA, two needles were placed laterally on the scalp, 3 cuns superior to the temporal attachment of the helix of the ear. This point was selected as it does not correspond to any specific meridian acupuncture point. A disabled electrical cable was connected to the needles and the electrostimulator, with light blinking at 2 Hz but no electrical stimulation provided.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Antidepressant Response, Defined as a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Score Relative Decrease of 50 % or More and a Final Score < 10	Number of participants whose Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score decreased at least 50% and had a final score less than 10. Minimum score = 0 (best). Maximum score = 52 (worst). The 17 item scale assesses depression symptoms, including Depressed Mood, Feelings of Guilt, Suicidal Ideation, Insomnia, Anxiety, Weight Change, and Insight.	Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention Endpoint

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Functioning and Health-related Quality of Life as Rated by the Medical Outcomes Survey-Version 1 (MOS-36) Physical Component Score (MOSPCS)	Mean change in scores on the Medical Outcomes Survey-Version 1 (MOS-36) PHYSICAL Component Score (MOSPCS) from baseline to post-intervention across treatment group. Minimum Score = 0 (worse); Maximum Score = 100 (better), Normed to be at 50 on a control population. Positive Mean Change scores indicate improvement (an increase in scale score/better).	Mean Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention Endpoint
Change in Functioning and Health-related Quality of Life as Rated by the Medical Outcomes Survey-Version 1 (MOS-36) Mental Component Score (MOSMCS)	Mean change in scores on the Medical Outcomes Survey-Version 1 (MOS-36) Mental Component Score (MOSMCS) from baseline to post-intervention across treatment group. Minimum Score = 0 (worse); Maximum Score = 100 (better) , Normed to be at 50 on a control population. Positive Mean Change scores indicate improvement (an increase in scale score).	Mean Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention Endpoint
Change in Functioning and Health-related Quality of Life as Rated by the Medical Outcomes Survey-Version 1 (MOS-36) Bodily Pain Index (MOSBPI)	Mean change in scores on the Medical Outcomes Survey-Version 1 (MOS-36) Bodily Pain Index (MOSBPI) from baseline to post-intervention across treatment group. Minimum Score = 0 (more); Maximum Score = 100 (less). Positive Mean Change scores indicate improvement (an increase in scale score/less pain).	Mean Change from Baseline to Post-Intervention Endpoint

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Benoit H Mulsant, MD, University of Pittsburgh

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Andreescu C, Glick RM, Emeremni CA, Houck PR, Mulsant BH. Acupuncture for the treatment of major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011 Aug;72(8):1129-35. doi: 10.4088/JCP.10m06105. Epub 2011 May 3.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2004
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2007
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2007

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 10, 2003
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 14, 2003
• First Posted (Estimate): October 15, 2003

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 11, 2010
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 4, 2009
• Last Verified: December 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Acupuncture; Electroacupuncture; Alternative therapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Mood Disorders; Depression; Depressive Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: R21AT001218-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)