ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess clinical therapeutic effect and safety of acupuncture combined with fuxiting on depression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-three cases of depression were divided into an observation group (n = 30) treated by acupuncture combined with fuxiting and a control group treated by fuxiting. Their clinical therapeutic effects were assessed by HAMD, HAMA and CGI, and adverse effects by TESS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment of 6 weeks, the total effective rate was 80.0% in the observation group and 69.6% in the control group with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in scores of HAMD and HAMA before and after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The adverse effect in the observation group was less and milder than that in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture combined fuxiting has good therapeutic effect on depression with less and mild adverse effects.</p>