Table 1. Baseline Demographic and Clinical Characteristics at the Time of Randomization in the Intention-to-Treat Analysis.
| Variable | Participants, No. (%) (N = 74) | |
|---|---|---|
| SA group (n = 37) | NSA group (n = 37) | |
| Age, median (IQR), y | 28 (22-37) | 30 (23-36) |
| Patient Health Questionnaire–9 Score, median (IQR)a | 14.0 (12.0-16.0) | 16.0 (14.0-18.0) |
| Gender | ||
| Male | 5 (13) | 6 (16) |
| Female | 32 (87) | 30 (81) |
| Nonbinary | 0 | 1 (3) |
| Race and ethnicity | ||
| Black | 0 | 5 (14) |
| Multiracial | 2 (5) | 6 (16) |
| White | 35 (95) | 26 (70) |
| Incomeb | ||
| ≤3 times the monthly minimum wage | 14 (38) | 11 (30) |
| >3 times the monthly minimum wage | 23 (62) | 26 (70) |
| Marital status | ||
| Single | 22 (59) | 17 (46) |
| Not single | 15 (41) | 20 (54) |
| Education | ||
| Less than high school up to completed high school | 10 (27) | 10 (27) |
| Incomplete college education or higher | 27 (73) | 27 (73) |
| Weekly working hours, median (IQR) (n = 49) | 42 (27-44) | 44 (22-44) |
| Previous diagnosis of depression or other mental illness | 16 (43) | 16 (43) |
| Participant used any medication for depression | 8 (22) | 4 (11) |
| Participant used medication in the last 3 mo | ||
| No | 21 (57) | 27 (73) |
| Antidepressant | 8 (22) | 5 (13) |
| Tranquilizer or sedative | 5 (13) | 4 (11) |
| Anxiolytic | 7 (19) | 3 (8) |
| Participant consumes alcoholic beverages | 26 (70) | 20 (54) |
| Participant smokes any cigarette | ||
| No | 35 (95) | 35 (96) |
| Yes | 2 (5) | 1 (2) |
| Former smoker | 0 | 1 (2) |
Abbreviations: NSA, nonspecific auricular acupuncture; SA, specific auricular acupuncture.
a
A score of 10 to 14 indicates moderate depression; 15 to 19, moderately severe depression; and 20 to 25, severe depression.
b
The monthly minimum wage in Brazil is equivalent to $250 in 2023.