Acupuncture for Chronic Pain-Related Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize and evaluate the existing evidence on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in relieving chronic pain-related depression (CPRD). Methods. We searched seven online databases to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of...

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Main Authors: Jianyu You, Haiyan Li, Dingyi Xie, Rixin Chen, Mingren Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Pain Research and Management
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6617075
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author Jianyu You
Haiyan Li
Dingyi Xie
Rixin Chen
Mingren Chen
author_facet Jianyu You
Haiyan Li
Dingyi Xie
Rixin Chen
Mingren Chen
author_sort Jianyu You
collection DOAJ
description Objective. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize and evaluate the existing evidence on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in relieving chronic pain-related depression (CPRD). Methods. We searched seven online databases to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for CPRD published before September 2020. We included studies that used acupuncture as the intervention group, with or without a control group, and the control group was treated with conventional drugs. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. For outcomes, assessments were performed using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and adverse events. Results. Eight studies involving 636 participants were identified and included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that single acupuncture treatment and drug treatment have the same effect in improving the HAMD score (MD = −0.14, 95% CI = [−0.88, 0.59], P = 0.71) and alleviating the VAS score (MD = −0.42, 95% CI = [−1.10, −0.27], P = 0.23), but acupuncture treatment is safer (OR = 0.03, 95% CI = [0.01, 0.21], P = 0.0003). In addition, acupuncture combined with drugs (control group) is more beneficial than single-drug treatment in improving the HAMD score (MD = −2.95, 95% CI = [−3.55, −2.36], P < 0.00001) and alleviating the VAS score (MD = −1.06, 95% CI = [−1.65, −0.47], P = 0.0004). Conclusion. Acupuncture is an effective and safe treatment for CPRD, and acupuncture combined with drug therapy is more effective than single-drug therapy. Nevertheless, the conclusions were limited due to the low quality and a small number of included studies.
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spelling doaj-art-074e6449cb2e4682a6a54bbdfe1e35542025-08-20T02:02:51ZengWileyPain Research and Management1203-67651918-15232021-01-01202110.1155/2021/66170756617075Acupuncture for Chronic Pain-Related Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisJianyu You0Haiyan Li1Dingyi Xie2Rixin Chen3Mingren Chen4Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, ChinaJiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, ChinaThe Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, ChinaThe Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, ChinaJiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, ChinaObjective. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize and evaluate the existing evidence on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in relieving chronic pain-related depression (CPRD). Methods. We searched seven online databases to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for CPRD published before September 2020. We included studies that used acupuncture as the intervention group, with or without a control group, and the control group was treated with conventional drugs. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. For outcomes, assessments were performed using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and adverse events. Results. Eight studies involving 636 participants were identified and included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that single acupuncture treatment and drug treatment have the same effect in improving the HAMD score (MD = −0.14, 95% CI = [−0.88, 0.59], P = 0.71) and alleviating the VAS score (MD = −0.42, 95% CI = [−1.10, −0.27], P = 0.23), but acupuncture treatment is safer (OR = 0.03, 95% CI = [0.01, 0.21], P = 0.0003). In addition, acupuncture combined with drugs (control group) is more beneficial than single-drug treatment in improving the HAMD score (MD = −2.95, 95% CI = [−3.55, −2.36], P < 0.00001) and alleviating the VAS score (MD = −1.06, 95% CI = [−1.65, −0.47], P = 0.0004). Conclusion. Acupuncture is an effective and safe treatment for CPRD, and acupuncture combined with drug therapy is more effective than single-drug therapy. Nevertheless, the conclusions were limited due to the low quality and a small number of included studies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6617075
spellingShingle Jianyu You
Haiyan Li
Dingyi Xie
Rixin Chen
Mingren Chen
Acupuncture for Chronic Pain-Related Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Pain Research and Management
title Acupuncture for Chronic Pain-Related Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_full Acupuncture for Chronic Pain-Related Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_fullStr Acupuncture for Chronic Pain-Related Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Acupuncture for Chronic Pain-Related Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_short Acupuncture for Chronic Pain-Related Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_sort acupuncture for chronic pain related depression a systematic review and meta analysis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6617075
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AT dingyixie acupunctureforchronicpainrelateddepressionasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT rixinchen acupunctureforchronicpainrelateddepressionasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT mingrenchen acupunctureforchronicpainrelateddepressionasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis