Cancer Treatment Side Effects & Supportive and Palliative Care
Acupuncture for depression
Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in relieving mild to moderate depression in elderly patients with COPD, in patients with end-stage renal disease, and patients with depression without any other co-morbidity. Although existing studies are small, various modalities of acupuncture, including Traditional Chinese needle acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, laser acupuncture and acupressure have been shown effective in treating depression in non-cancer populations.
Safety
Acupuncture is considered a highly safe intervention in the hands of well-trained and licensed providers. Serious side effects from acupuncture are extremely rare. Minor side effects may include bruising in the needling area that usually disappears within 24 hours.
Recommendations
There are no RCTs of acupuncture for depression in oncology populations. However, evidence from other populations suggests that acupuncture may be a helpful co-adjuvant therapy in the treatment of depression in oncology patients. In addition, acupressure and laser acupuncture may be useful as a therapy for treating depression in patients who are needle-phobic or who may not be able to receive acupuncture because of immune-suppressed status or low platelet count.
References - Hide References
- Tsay SL, Hung LO. Empowerment of patients with end-stage renal disease Ða randomized controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2004 Jan;41(1):59-65.
- Cohen A, Menter A and Hale L. Acupuncture: Role in comprehensive cancer care. INTEGRATIVE CANCER THERAPIES 4(2); 2005
- Han C, Li X, Luo H. Comparative study of electro-acupuncture and maprotiline in treating depression. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie Je Za Zhi. 2002;22:512-514, 521.
- Roschke J, Wolf C, Muller MJ, et al. The benefit from whole body acupuncture in major depression. J Affect Disord. 2000;57:73-81.
- Luo H, Meng F, Jia Y, Zhao X. Clinical research on the therapeutic effect of the electroacupuncture treatment in patients with depression. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1998;52(suppl):S338- S340.
- Wang S, Kain Z. Auricular acupuncture: a potential treatment for anxiety. Anesth Analg. 2001;92:548-553.
- Eich H, Agelink M, Lehmann E, Lemmer W, Klieser E. Acupuncture in patients with minor depressive episodes and generalized anxiety: results of an experimental study. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 2000;68:137-144.