Randomised trial, 2013
Does acupuncture help anxiety and depression from PMDD?
Real acupuncture reduced anxiety and depression significantly more than sham acupuncture, with anxiety scores dropping 58.9% versus 21.2% and depression scores dropping 52.0% versus 19.6%, suggesting a real treatment effect.
What they did
Thirty women with PMDD were assigned to either real acupuncture or sham (fake) acupuncture in a single-blind trial where women did not know which they received. Participants attended twice weekly for two menstrual cycles, totaling 16 sessions. Anxiety and depression were measured using standardized rating scales before and after treatment.
What they found
Both groups improved, but real acupuncture was significantly more effective. Anxiety scores fell 58.9% with real acupuncture compared to 21.2% with sham (p<0.001). Depression scores fell 52.0% with real acupuncture compared to 19.6% with sham (p=0.012).
What it means for you
Acupuncture appears to reduce anxiety and depression in PMDD beyond the placebo effect, with substantial improvements shown. The study was small with only 30 women, and because women may have guessed whether they received real or sham needles based on sensation, some improvement could reflect placebo effect or expectation.
30
women with PMDD
16
acupuncture sessions per person
58.9%
anxiety reduction with real acupuncture
About the study
- Original title
- Effects of acupuncture on the symptoms of anxiety and depression caused by premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Carvalho F, Weires K, Ebling M et al.
- Journal
- Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society
- Year
- 2013
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 30
- What was tested
- Real or sham acupuncture twice weekly for two menstrual cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1136/acupmed-2013-010394
Topics
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