Acupuncture in patients with minor depressive episodes and generalized anxiety. Results of an experimental study

In a placebo-controlled, randomized, modified double-blind study we investigated the effects of body needle acupuncture (n=10) in 43 patients with minor depression and 13 patients with generalized anxiety disorders. After completing an total of 10 acupuncture sessions the verum acupuncture group (n=28) showed a significantly larger clinical improvement compared to the placebo group. There were significantly more responders in the verum-compared to the placebo group. In contrast, no differences in the response rates were evident just after 5 acupuncture sessionsOur results indicate that needle acupuncture leads to a significant clinical improvement as well as to a remarkable reduction in anxiety symptoms in patients with minor depression or with generalized anxiety disorders.