Acupuncture Relieves Depression in Pregnant Women
Presenters at the Pregnancy Meeting sponsored by the Society for Maternal-Fetal meeting, recently held in Chicago, revealed findings that acupuncture may be an effective treatment depression during pregnancy.
Dr. Schyner, an author of the study stated, “Depression during pregnancy is an issue of concern because it has negative effects on the mother and the baby as well as the rest of the family.”
Even though depression in pregnant women occurs on the same level as it does among women of the same age who aren’t pregnant and women during the postpartum (after birth) period, fewer treatment studies have been conducted on pregnant depressed women.
The developing baby and mother are affected by anti-depressant treatment.
150 participants with Major Depressive Disorder were randomly placed in a either a group that received acupuncture specific treatment for depression, or one of two active controls: control acupuncture (they didn’t receive acupuncture specific treatment, but another form of acupuncture) or massage.
The women received 12 sessions during a two month period. Junior acupuncturists masked to treatment assignment needled participants at points prescribed by senior acupuncturists. The mother’s symptoms of depression were rated at the beginning, and after four and eight weeks of treatment.
The women in the acupuncture specific treatment experienced much greater decrease in the severity of their symptoms compared to both control groups or the non-specific acupuncture group alone. They also had a higher response rate thant the combined controls or the control acupuncture alone. The reduction of symptoms and response rates did not differ greatly between the two control groups.
Forty three of the 150 participants reported mild and brief side effects (20 in the depression specific acupuncture group, 19 in the non-specific acupuncture group and 4 in the massage group). Notably fewer participants reported side effects in the massage group than in the two acupuncture groups.
Dr. Schyner said, “The results of our study show that the acupuncture protocol we tested could be a viable treatment option for depression during pregnancy.
Learn more about acupuncture. Stop by Elaine R. Ferguson, MD’s site where you can find out all about holstic health information and what it can do for you.