Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:24:3
Ayinde O. Chase - AHN Editor
Chicago, IL, United States (AHN) - A recent study finds that acupuncture may be an effective treatment for depression during pregnancy.
"Depression during pregnancy is an issue of concern because it has negative effects on both the mother and the baby as well as the rest of the family," says Dr. Schnyer, one of the study's authors.
According to researchers 10 percent of pregnant women meet criteria for major depression and nearly 20 percent reflect increased symptoms of depression during pregnancy.
Depression rates among pregnant women are comparable to rates seen among similarly aged non-pregnant women and among women during the postpartum period. However there are very few studies investigating the pregnancy correlation.
During an evaluator-blinded randomized trial, 150 participants received either acupuncture specific for depression or one of two active controls: control acupuncture or massage. Treatments lasted eight weeks (12 sessions).
The results of the study showed that the women who received acupuncture experienced a significantly greater decrease in depression severity.
Schnyer says, "The results of our study show that the acupuncture protocol we tested could be a viable treatment option for depression during pregnancy."
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