Table 4.

Comparator arm interventions used in acupuncture trials of depression

Trial (first author, date)	Comparator Arm(s)
1. Luo 1985 (China)	Amitriptyline medication (25 mg, 3× per day for 1 week then increased to an average dose of 142 mg)
2. Luo 1988 (China)	Amitriptyline medication for 6 weeks. Initial dose for week one: 25 – 50 mg, increased to 150 mg per day. From week 2 the dose was modified depending on side effects.)
3. Xiujuan 1994 (China)	Amitriptyline 25 mg on the first day, dose increased by 25–50 mg each day up to 150 mg. In the second week the dose was adjusted according to response and side effects but ranged between 150 and 300 mg per day
4. Luo 1998 (China)	Phase 1: Amitriptyline treatment group received average dose of 175 mg per day, combination group received 165 mg per day. Phase 2:Amitriptyline given at average dose of 161 mg per day.
5. Allen 1998 (USA)	Two comparator arm interventions: Nonspecific acupuncture using acupuncture points but for another diagnosis e.g., back pain, and wait list control. The nonspecific acupuncture and wait list control groups received specific acupuncture after 8 weeks. Administering acupuncture practitioners were blind as to study's hypothesis.
6. Roschke 2000 (Germany)	Three groups Mianserin (90–120 mg per day) Mianserin (90–120 mg per day) plus verum acupuncture Mianserin (90–120 mg per day) plus placebo acupuncture Placebo acupuncture patients received treatment at nonacupuncture loci adjacent to the selected acupoints and the skin was only superficially pricked.
7. Han 2002	Maprotyline medication, daily dose ranging from 75–250 mg, for 6 weeks
8. Manber et al. 2004	Two comparator arm interventions Nonspecific acupuncture‐participants needled at nonrelevant points Massage, as a time and attention control, exploring the variable of physical contact. Administering acupuncturists were told the study was investigating points that were directly and indirectly relevant for depression.
9. Allen et al. 2006	Two comparator arm interventions: Nonspecific acupuncture using acupuncture points, and wait list control. The nonspecific acupuncture and wait list control groups received specific acupuncture after 8 weeks. Administering acupuncture practitioners were told the study was investigating various forms of treatment for depression.