Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of electro-acupuncture on personality traits in depression: A randomized controlled study

  • Clinical Experience
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To explore the personality-adjusting effect of electro-acupuncture treatment for depression and compared this treatment with paroxetine treatment.

Methods

A non-blinded, randomized controlled trial was adopted. Sixty depressed patients, who met trial criteria, were randomly assigned to the treatment and the control groups. In the treatment group, electro-acupuncture treatment was used, and paroxetine treatment was used in the control group. During the 24-week study period, 12 patients dropped out and 48 patients completed the study. The Minnesota Multiple Personality Inventory (MMPI) was adopted as the evaluation tool. At the same time, the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) were used to evaluate the psychological state. Evaluations were done before and after treatment.

Results

After treatment, patients’ psychological state improved significantly in both groups (P<0.01). For the treatment group, within-group comparison between baseline and after 24 weeks of treatment showed that severity of depression had significantly decreased (P<0.01). MADRS and SDS scores decreased significantly (P<0.05) and MMPI subscale scores for hypochondriasis, depression, psychopathic deviate, psychasthenia, social introversion and fake decreased significantly (P<0.05). For the control group, severity of depression also decreased significantly. MADRS and SDS scores decreased significantly (P<0.05); and MMPI subscale scores for hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, paranoia, and psychasthenia decreased significantly (P<0.05). Between-group comparison demonstrated that for the MMPI subscales paranoia and social introversion, the decrease of score was greater in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). However, there were no other significant differences between the control group and the treatment group.

Conclusion

Electro-acupuncture is effective for treating depression and affects personality traits.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ian Hgotlib, Jutta Joormann. Cognition and depression: current status and future directions. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2010;27(6):285–312.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Gilbody S, Whitty P. Effective health care bulletin-improving the recognition and management of depression in primary care. New York: NHS CRD, University of York; 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Freeman MP. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM): considerations for the treatment of major depressive disorder. J Clin Psychiatry 2009;70(Suppl 5):4–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Thomas K, Coleman P. Use of complementary or alternative medicine in a general population in Great Britain: Results from the National Omnibus survey. J Public Health 2004;26:152–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Smith CA, Hay PP, Macpherson H. Acupuncture for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010;(1):CD004046.

  6. Mukaino Y, Park J, White A, Ernst E. The effectiveness of acupuncture for depression—a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Acupunct Med 2005;23:70–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Eric Manheimer. Selecting a control in IVF and acupuncture RCTs: How sham controls may unnecessarily complicate the RCT evidence base. Fertil Steril 2011;95:2456–2461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Stub T, Alræk T, Liu JP. Acupuncture treatment for depression—A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Integr Med 2011;3(4):e259–e270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Richard N, Osmaan S. Complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Canadian Family Physician 2011;57:659–663.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Huo ZJ, Guo J, Li D. Effects of acupuncture with meridian acupoints and three Anmian acupoints on insomnia and related depression and anxiety state. Chin J Integr Med 2013;19:187–191.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Leo RJ, Ligot JS Jr. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of acupuncture in the treatment of depression. J Affect Disord 2007;97(1–3):13–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Jiang KD. Guidance to depression precaution and treatment. Beijing: Medical Press of Beijing University 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Fava M. Diagnosis and definition of treatment resistant depression. Biol Psychiatry 2003;53:649–659.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Xiong J, Liu F, Zhang MM, Wang W, Huang GY. De-qi, not psychological factors, determines the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture treatment for primary dysmenorrhea. Chin J Integr Med 2012;18:7–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Bagby RM, Marshall MB, Bacchiochi JR. The validity and clinical utility of the MMPI-2 Malingering Depression scale. J Pers Assess 2005;85(3):304–311.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Lange RT, Sullivan KA, Scott C. Comparison of MMPI-2 and PAI validity indicators to detect feigned depression and PTSD symptom reporting. Psychiatry Res 2010;176:229–235.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Tony TZ, DeRubeis RJ, Hollon SD, Amsterda MJ, Shelton R, Schalet B. Personality change during depression treatment. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009;66:1322–1330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Williams JB, Kobak KA. Development and reliability of a structured interview guide for the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (SIGMA). Br J Psychiatry 2008;192:52–58.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Bondolfi G, Jermann F, Rouget BW, Gex-Fabry M, Mc Quillan A, Dupont-Willemin A, et al. Self- and clinician-rated Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale: evaluation in clinical practice. J Affect Disord 2010;121:268–272.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Heo M, Murphy CF, Meyers BS. Relationship between the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale in depressed elderly: a metaanalysis. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2007;15:899–905.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Ruiz-Grosso P, Loret de Mola C, Vega-Dienstmaier JM, Arevalo JM, Chavez K, Vilela A, et al. Validation of the spanish center for epidemiological studies depression and zung self-rating depression scales: a comparative validation study. PLoS One 2012;7(10):e45413.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. First MB, Spitzer RL, Gibbon M, Williams JBW, ed. Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I DSM-IV Disorders. New York: New York State Psychiatric Institute; 2001:1–77

    Google Scholar 

  23. Josefsson K, Merjonen P, Jokela M, Pulkki-Raback L, Keltikangas-Javine L. Personality profiles identify depressive symptoms over ten years? A population-based study. Depress Res Treat 2011;2011:431314.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Chen Z, Lu X, Kitamura T. The effects of temperament and character on symptoms of depression in a Chinese nonclinical population. Depress Res Treat 2011; 2011:198591.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Chang SM, Law DW, Chang HK. the impact of personality on depression among university students in Taiwan. Chang Gung Med J 2011;34:528–535.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China

    Wei-dong Wang  (汪卫东), Xue-yu Lu  (吕学玉), Lan Hong  (洪 兰), Yang Zhao  (赵 阳), Ying-na Lin  (林颖娜) & Fang Wang  (王 芳)

  2. Department of Social Work and Social Administration, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Siu-man Ng  (吴兆文)

Authors
  1. Wei-dong Wang  (汪卫东)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xue-yu Lu  (吕学玉)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Siu-man Ng  (吴兆文)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lan Hong  (洪 兰)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yang Zhao  (赵 阳)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ying-na Lin  (林颖娜)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Fang Wang  (王 芳)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei-dong Wang  (汪卫东).

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30772845)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, Wd., Lu, Xy., Ng, Sm. et al. Effects of electro-acupuncture on personality traits in depression: A randomized controlled study. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 19, 777–782 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-013-1594-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-013-1594-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation