A 2010 study concluded that acupuncture reduces depression during pregnancy. In this first-of-its-kind study from Stanford University School of Medicine, investigators found that acupuncture was a safe and effective method for pregnant women to reduce depression symptoms.
Acupuncture Eases Depression
The study authors, led by Rachel Manber, Ph.D., stated that they hoped the results would raise awareness of depression during pregnancy. In addition, they were encouraged that these results would provide patients and physicians with a viable alternative to antidepressants. “This standardized acupuncture protocol could be a viable treatment option for depression during pregnancy,” they wrote in a paper that appeared in the March 2010 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Pregnancy and Depression
Fourteen percent of pregnant women struggle with major depressive disorder, characterized by feelings of dread and hopelessness, including a loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities. Some of these women suffer from depression before becoming pregnant, upon which time they stop their medications as a precaution for the baby’s health during pregnancy. Unfortunately, stopping medication often causes a relapse and spike in depression.
For other women, the pregnancy itself triggers depression. Doctors are not exactly sure why pregnancy leads to the disorder, but an increase in hormones might be the culprit. In addition, some women might feel overwhelmed by the significant changes in their life brought on by their pregnancy, which then trigger depression. Co-author Deirdre Lyell, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, stated, “Pregnancy just by its nature can bring out some underlying psychiatric and emotional issues.”
Dangers of Depression During Pregnancy
Left untreated, depression can pose risks to both mother and baby. The mom-to-be may stop taking care of herself or her fetus and might even engage in self-destructive behavior. Furthermore, studies link depression during pregnancy to poor birth outcomes and increased postpartum depression. “Treatment of depression during pregnancy is critically important so that a woman can maintain her sense of well-being and take good care of herself, her fetus, and, someday, her child,” said Lyell.
Antidepressant Medication During Pregnancy
A 2007 study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology noted that antidepressant use during pregnancy doubled between 1999 and 2003. Yet, despite this increase, many women still avoid taking medication during pregnancy due to safety concerns. Manber said 94 percent of the depressed women involved in her study expressed reluctance to antidepressants.
Acupuncture Reduces Depression During Pregnancy
For this study, researchers recruited 150 women, 12 to 30 weeks pregnant, who met the criteria for major depressive disorder. They randomly assigned the women into one of three groups:
Acupuncture specific for depression.
Control acupuncture, inserting needles into points not known to help reduce depression.
Massage.
All of the women received eight weeks of therapy. Interviewers assessed them for depression at the four- and eight-week marks. These interviewers were kept unaware of the treatment each woman received.
Conclusions
The researchers found that the women who received depression-specific acupuncture experienced a more significant reduction in depression symptoms than women in the other groups. Specifically, the response rate — defined as showing a 50 percent or more reduction in symptoms — was 63 percent for the women receiving depression-specific acupuncture, compared with 44 percent for the women in the other two treatment groups combined.
Dr. Lyell stated, “I don’t think one-size-fits-all treatments are appropriate for everyone, but pregnant women struggling with depression should consider acupuncture as an option.” She continued, “I hope that people will respect the rigorous methodology used in this blinded, randomized, controlled trial and accept the result: Traditional acupuncture was associated with a significant improvement in depression.”
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References
Manber R, Schnyer RN, Lyell D, Chambers AS, Caughey AB, Druzin M, Carlyle E, Celio C, Gress JL, Huang MI, Kalista T, Martin-Okada R, Allen JJB. Acupuncture for depression during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Mar;115(3):511-520. DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181cc0816. PMID: 20177281.
What our Clients are Saying
I was feeling depressed and stressed because I didn’t like my job and didn’t know what to do with my life. I started taking Lexipro but it really affected my libido so I stopped taking it. I tried acupuncture because my husband said it helped him when he was depressed years earlier (before he met me!) I went to Raleigh Acupuncture and started treatments. They were really knowledgeable about Chinese medicine and explained how the body gets stuck in depression, and how the acupuncture gets the body unstuck. They really listened to me and helped me figure stuff out. I started feeling less depressed. Then I actually started getting more clear about what I wanted to do with my life career-wise. I decided to go back to school and now I’m almost done with my degree. I haven’t felt depressed at all since I was treated and I’m really excited about my life. I’m very grateful to them for being such great healers and such a great support to me when I really needed it.
I had very severe depression after my son was born. The doctors put me on medication, which helped, but I still had no motivation and felt very sad. I tried acupuncture and it really improved my mood. I would say that within four weeks of starting treatment I was no longer depressed. My motivation returned, I was able to get out of bed in the morning ready to go, and I started enjoying my son for the first time. I think the combination of medications and acupuncture worked great for me. I appreciate the caring and skill at Raleigh Acupuncture and recommend them highly for treating depression.
