Depressed mood, loss of interest, and reduced energy are all symptoms that characterize depressive disorders. The most prominent symptom in patients with depression is sleep disturbance, including insomnia. While studies show depression may lead to poor sleep quality, poor sleep quality also contributes to the development of depression.
In a randomized clinical study, 247 patients with the diagnosis of insomnia and depression received treatment and were screened for 8 weeks. Patients who were treated with electroacupuncture showed the most improvement in their sleep quality. Their severity of insomnia, depressive mood, and anxiety symptoms were all greatly reduced by the end of the study. As there were no reported adverse events during the trial, researchers concluded that electroacupuncture is an effective and safe alternative therapy for treating patients with depression and insomnia.
Please feel free to call us at 301.880.3232 and it would be our pleasure to schedule a comprehensive evaluation and treatment for you with Dr. Christina Tian.
References:
Yin X, Li W, Liang T, et al. Effect of Electroacupuncture on Insomnia in Patients With Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(7):e2220563. Published 2022 Jul 1. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.20563