Effect of auricular acupuncture on reduction of sertraline hydrochloride in patients with depression: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of auricular acupuncture on reduction rate of sertraline hydrochloride, and to explore the long-term efficacy of auricular acupuncture in patients with depression.@*METHODS@#Seventy-two patients with depression were randomly divided into an observation group (36 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (36 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with conventional dosage reduction method, that is, the dosage of sertraline hydrochloride was reduced by 25% every week until the dosage was stopped completely on the premise of no aggravation of depressive symptoms. Based on the conventional dosage reduction method used in the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with auricular acupuncture at Xin (CO@*RESULTS@#The dosage of sertraline hydrochloride in the observation group was less than that in the control group after 2, 3, 4 weeks of dosage reduction and during follow-up (@*CONCLUSION@#Auricular acupuncture could effectively reduce the dosage of sertraline hydrochloride, improve the dosage reduction rate, reduce the incidence of withdrawal syndrome and reduce the risk of long-term recurrence in patients with depression.