Psychological modulation

Major depressive disorder is the most common mental disorder with significant economic burden and limited treatments. Acupuncture has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological treatment for reducing depressive symptoms. acupuncture could increase hippocampal and network neuroplasticity and decrease brain inflammation, potentially to alleviating depressive disorders. clinical studies indicated that acupuncture could relieve primary depression, particularly milder cases, and was helpful in the management of post-stroke depression, pain-related depression, and postpartum depression both as an isolated and adjunct treatment. It was emphasized that acupuncture combined with antidepressant pharmacological treatment not only enhanced the improvement of primary and secondary depressive symptoms but also reduced the side effects of the medical treatment, which is the main cause for high dropout rates with drug treatment.