Efficacy evaluation for depression with somatic symptoms treated by electroacupuncture combined with Fluoxetine

Abstract

Objective: This study is to investigate the clinical therapeutic effects and safety of treating mild or moderate depression with somatic symptoms with electroacupuncture combined with Fluoxetine.

Methods: 95 cases of mild or moderate depression with somatic symptoms were randomly divided into a Fluoxetine group, and an electroacupuncture plus Fluoxetine group. Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) was used for the assessment of clinical therapeutic effects and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) was used for assessment of adverse reactions.

Results: The total effective rate was 77.27% in the Fluoxetine group and 78.26% in the electroacupuncture plus Fluoxetine group, showing no statistically significant difference between these two groups (P > 0.05). However, the treatment took effect after two weeks in the electroacupuncture plus Fluoxetine group but after four weeks in Fluoxetine group. During this time, a better therapeutic effect on depression with mild or moderate somatic symptoms was found in the electroacupuncture plus Fluoxetine group, which also had fewer adverse reactions than the Fluoxetine group.

Conclusion: Electroacupuncture combined with Fluoxetine takes effect faster for relieving the somatic symptoms with fewer adverse reactions. It is worth popularizing clinically.