ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with paroxetine in the treatment of depression. METHODS: The research literature on the treatment of depression with acupuncture and moxibustion combined with paroxetine was collected using keywords in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, World Wide Web, Chinese Biomedical Literature and other public publication databases. Collaborative screening of literature was performed according to pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data in the literature were extracted, the quality of the literature was evaluated, and the RevMan software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: This study finally included 21 research papers involving 1733 clinical patients. The main evaluation indicators for clinical patients were Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), total clinical response rate, Rating Scale for Side Effects (SERS) and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS). SERS was developed by Asberg. The Chinese version was revised by Zhang Mingyuan (Chairman of the Chinese Medical Association Mental Health Society) et al. The SERS is divided into 14 items, all of which use a 4-point scoring method (none, mild, moderate and severe, respectively). This scale is mainly used to assess the side effects of antidepressants. TESS was compiled by the NIMH of the United States in 1973. It has the most comprehensive items and the widest coverage among the scales of its kind, including not only common adverse symptoms and signs, but also several laboratory test results. Meta-analysis of the above results showed that compared with the control group, the acupuncture combined with paroxetine treatment group showed lower HAMD score (WMD=-4.18 [-5.04, -3.31], P<0.001), higher total response rate (OR=4.01 [3.01, 5.33], P<0.001), lower SERS score (WMD=-2.54 [-4.58, -0.51], P<0.001) and lower TESS score (WMD=-4.39 [-5.15, -3.62], P<0.001), and the differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with paroxetine on depression is better than that of conventional drug treatment, and its safety is comparable to that of conventional treatment.
