A Positron Emission Topographic (PET) Study on Depression Patient With Electroacupuncture

Subjects of both study arms received orally administered SSRIs for 4 weeks in an open manner. For those who were currently under antidepressant treatment, they would continue the existing treatment regimens. For those who were not medicated at the time of trial, fluoxetine (FLX) was given at an initiate dose of 10 mg/day and escalated to an optimal dose within one week, based on individual response, but the maximum dose was set at 40 mg/day.

"Six pairs of cranial acupoints are used: Baihui (Du-20) and Yintang (EX-HN3), left Sishencong (EX-HN1) and Toulinqi (GB15), right Sishencong (EX-HN1) and Toulinqi (GB15), bilateral Shuaigu (GB8), bilateral Taiyang (EX-HN5), and bilateral Touwei (ST8). All these acupoints are located on the forehead.~Disposable acupuncture needles (Hwato®/ Dongbang®, 0.30 mm in diameter and 25-40 mm in length) are inserted at a depth of 10-30 mm obliquely into acupoints, on which low- and high-frequency alternating electrical stimulation with continuous waves is conducted for 30 min. The intensity is adjusted to a level at which patients feel comfortable."

Streitberger's acupuncture needles will be applied on the same acupoints, with the same electrical stimulation parameters, except that the needles only adhere to the skin instead of insertion.