Consecutive clinical studies on the treatment of depression with Electro-acupuncture (EA) have been conducted by Dr. Cui Han from 2000 to 2004 in Mental Health Institution of Peking University. The results from these clinical trials showed that the therapeutc effect of EA was equal to that of Amitrptyline, Maprotiline or Fluoxetine. The side effects of EA were much less than that of Amitriptyline or Maprotilne. Two years follow up study showed that the long term therapeutic effects of EA for depression was similar to that of Amitriptyline. Combination of the acupuncture points on head and limbs based on the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicne was more effective than Maprotiline for the somatic symptoms accompaying with depression. We had the conclusion that EA treatment is an effective therapeutic method for depressive disorders.

Related publications of Dr. Cui Han

1. Treatment of depression by Chinese medicine 
中医治疗抑制症的现状
Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2000(4)

2. Dynamic study of electral acupuncture on serum cytokines in depressive patients.
电针对抑郁症患者血清细胞因子的影响
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine Science. 2002,11(3)

3. Treatment of 30 cases of depression with electro-acupuncture.
电针治疗抑郁症30例临床研究
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2002,43(6)

4. Comparative study of electro-acupuncture and maprotiline in treating depression.
电针与麦普替林治疗抑郁症患者的对照研究
Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine. 2002,22(7)

5. Effects of electroacupuncture on receptor number and binding activity of 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 in the cerebral cortex of the chronic stress depression model rats
电针对慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠大脑皮层5-HT_1和5-HT_2受体数量和结合活性的影响
Journal of Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 2003,23(9)

6. Application of Ginkgo Biloba in psychiatry.
中药银杏叶提取物在精神科的应用
Chinese MinKang Medicine. 2004(2)

7. 电针对抑郁大鼠中枢及外周单胺类神经递质的影响
Chinese Archives of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2003,22(1)