AIM: To explore the intervention effects of tiaoshenshugan acupuncture on the depressive and anxious condition of patients with depression. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with depression, who were treated in the Department of Acupuncture and out-patient clinic, First Affiliated Hospital, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were selected between March 2001 and September 2002 with the agreement of the patients or their guardian. According to the order of hospitalization, they were randomly divided into 2 groups: acupuncture group with 40 cases and control group with 32 cases. (1) The patients in acupuncture group were treated with tiaoshenshugan and darted the points: Neikuan (Luo-Connection point, P6), Philtrum, Sanyinjiao (Sp6), Paihui (Du20), Yint' ang (Extra) and T'aich'ung (Shu-Stream and Yuan-Source point liv 3). Neikuan: the twirling combined with lifting and thrusting the needle reinforcing reducing method was conducted. Philtrum: the bird-peck needling was performed till the eyeball moist. Paihui: the twirling reinforcing method was done with small range and altofrequency. Yint'ang: the twirling reinforcing method was done with small range and altofrequency. Sanyinjiao: the twirling and lifting and thrusting the needle reinforcing method were conducted. T'aich'ung: the twirling and lifting and thrusting the needle reinforcing method were conducted. (2) The patients in control group were performed routine acupuncture and the points were gained: Ch'ime (Front-Mu Point of the liver, Liv14), Yanglingch'van (He-Sea point, GB34), Shenmen (Shu-stream and Yuan-Source point, H7) and Chienshih (jing-River point, P5). According to differentiation of symptoms and signs, reinforcing or reducing or uniform reinforcing reducing method were conducted. At the moment of diagnosis and one month after treatment, the patients filled out the self rating depressive scale (20 terms, 4 grades, 1 to 4 points for little symptom to most of time with the symptom, but 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, and 20 terms was anti-assessment question with 4 to 1 points. The range of test time was the latest one week. The adding of the 20 terms score to gain the total mark, over 41 was positive), and the Zung self rating anxiety scale (20 terms, 4 grade, 1 to 4 points for little time with the symptom to most of time with the symptom, but 5, 9, 13, 17 and 19 terms was anti-assessment question with 4 to 1 points. The range of test time was the latest one week. The adding of the 20 terms score to gain the total mark, after the total mark multiplies with 1.25; the integer number was gained to obtain the standard mark which over 50 points for positive) to assess the depressive and anxiety condition and severity degree objectively. The depressive severity index = total mark /80; The anxiety severity index = standard mark /80. RESULTS: Totally 72 patients were involved in the result analysis without dropping. (1) The comparison of the depressive total mark between the patients in the two groups before and after treatment: It significantly decreased after treatment compared with before treatment in acupuncture group and after treatment in control group (33.40 +/- 7.71, 52.70 +/- 6.80, 39.58 +/- 8.50 (t = 7.91, 7.61, p < 0.05)). (2) The comparison of the depressive severity index before and after treatment in the patients in the two groups: It significantly decreased after treatment compared with before treatment in acupuncture group and after treatment in control group (0.40 +/- 0.07, 0.66 +/- 0.09, 0.48 +/- 0.10 (t = 7.32, 7.14, p < 0.05)). (3) The comparison of the anxiety standard mark before and after treatment in the patients in the two groups: it significantly decreased after treatment compared with before treatment in acupuncture group and after treatment in control group (27.96 +/- 8.35, 47.21 +/- 5.73, 36.00 +/- 4.54 (t = 7.82, 7.56, p < 0.05)). (4) The comparison of the depressive severity index before and after treatment in the patients in the two groups: it significantly decreased after treatment compared with before treatment in acupuncture group and after treatment in control group (0.34 +/- 0.09, 0.59 +/- 0.07, 0.45 +/- 0.05 (t = 7.26, 7.09, p < 0.05)). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can improve the depressive and anxious condition in patients with depression, while the intervention effect of tiaoshenshugan acupuncture therapy based on the reason of the depression is better than routine acupuncture therapy.

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