Table 2.

Patient groups used in trials of acupuncture for depression

Trial (first author, date)	Patient groups
1. Luo et al. 1985 (China)	47 men and women, who scored over 20 on the Hamilton Rating Scale
2. Luo et al. 1988 (China)	241 men and women (aged 32–64) recruited from three psychiatric hospitals, who scored over 20 on the Hamilton Rating Scale
3. Xiujuan et al. 1994 (China)	41 men and women with clinical depression (Hamilton Rating Scale of 25+), recruited from both in and out patient clinics at the Beijing Medical University, no exclusion criteria reported. 18 people described as having manic depression, 10 had involutional depression and 13 had depressive neurosis. Duration of disease ranged from 4 months to 5 years
4. Luo et al. 1998 (China)	Two phases of research 29 men and women, who scored over 20 on the Hamilton Rating Scale and were recruited from a closed ward in Beijing Medical University Hospital for a pilot trial. All participants were drug free for the week before commencing the trial. Mean age was 36 years and mean course of depression 7.9 years. In the second phase of research (see Ref. [35]) 241 patients recruited from 10 psychiatric hospitals. 193 were bipolar disorder and 48 with reactive depression, all were drug free for 1 week before trial commenced.
5. Allen et al. 1998 (USA)	38 women aged 18–45, with major depression as described by DSM IV, assessed by SCID interview Exclusion criteria: dysthymia or chronic depression, history of psychosis or mania, substance abuse, any current treatment, endocrine abnormalities, history of central nervous system lesions or any medical condition causing depression, pregnancy, suicide potential.
6. Roschke et al. 2000 (Germany)	70 hospital in‐patients aged 20–70 years, in Germany. Diagnosed with clinical depression equating to DSM III‐R and a score of greater than 18 on the Hamilton Depression Scale. 43 participants had recurrent depressive disorder (DSM code 296.3), 27 had single episode (DSM code 296.2) Participants excluded if suicidal, diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorders or delusions. Patients with coagulation disease, wound healing disease, emphysematous thorax, abnormal blood cell count, serious liver and kidney disease, epilepsy.
7. Han et al. 2002	66 men and women aged 18–55 were recruited to the trial from Beijing University mental institute, China. Inclusion criteria were ICD 10 and a score of 20 or more on the Hamilton rating Scale.
8. Manber et al. 2004	61 pregnant women with a Hamilton rating score of 14 or more. Participants recruited from obstetric clinics and local magazine advertisements. Inclusion criteria 18 years +, gestational age between 11 and 28 weeks at screening. Exclusion criteria: index MDE of 2 years+; psychotic features; a seasonal pattern; current active suicide potential; cluster B Axis II disorder or other Axis I disorder in past 2 months, except for simple phobia, social phobia or GAD (determined by SCID‐IV and SCID‐II; abnormal thyroid panel; an uncontrolled medical condition; a condition that may be a medical basis for depression; current use of any medication that impacts mood; confounding treatments for depression; and conditions that require bed rest.
9. Allen et al. 2006	151 participants (104 women, 47 men) who met DSMIV criteria for MDD, assessed by SCID‐P, and had a rating score or 14+ on the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression. Exclusion criteria: dysthymia or chronic (>2 yrs) MDD; seasonal pattern; any current Axis 1 diagnosis besides MDD or any Axis II Cluster B disorder; history of psychosis or mania; substance abuse or dependence within the past 4 months; any current relevant treatment; endocrine abnormalities (e.g., hypothyroidism, unstable diabetes; history of central nervous system involvement (e.g., seizures, brain injury, neurological illnesses); any medical disorder believed by the investigator to cause depression; active suicidal risk or attempt during past year; pregnancy. Participants were recruited via newspaper advertisements that mentioned depression but not acupuncture, 2965 responded between January 1998 and March 2002