Table 2.
Characteristics of included RCTs.
| First author, year | Sample size | Period of treatment | Experimental intervention | Control intervention | Outcome measures | Adverse events (n) | Follow-up times | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active group | Control group | Type | Main acupuncture points | Active group | Control group | |||||
| Chi 2011 | 30 | 30 | 4 weeks | MA | DU20, EX-HN3, EX-HN1, LR-14, LR3, KI3, ST36, SP6 | Prozac | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, HAMD score, 5-HT | Occasional subcutaneous hematoma | Dizziness (1), nausea (2) | NR |
| Deng 2008 | 29 | 29 | 4 weeks | MA (AA) | CV12, CV10, RN6, RN4, RN3, KI17 (left) | Deanxit | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, HAMD score, KMI score | Changes of character of stool (2), palpitation (1) | Dry mouth and halitosis (9), dysphoria (6), changes of character of stool (6), dreaminess (6), breast distending pain (5) | The 6th week and the 8th week |
| Dong 2005 | 30 | 30 | 1 month | MA | BL13, BL14, BL17, BL18, BL13, BL21, BL23 | HRT+ Prozac | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, HAMD score | NR | NR | NR |
| He 2013 | 30 | 30 | 8 weeks | MA (AA) | CV12, CV10, RN4, RN6, KI13, Qipang (0.5 cun beside RN 6) | Prozac | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, BDI score | NR | NR | NR |
| Li 2015 | 32 | 32 | 3 months | MA | BL23, BL18, BL14, DU20, EX-HN1, DU24, EX-HN3, PC6 | Prozac | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, HAMD score, KMI score | None | Nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, indigestion, diarrhea, insomnia, headache, dizziness (8) | After 3 months |
| Lin 2008 | 40 | 40 | 6 weeks | MA | DU20, EX-HN3, PC6, HT7, LI4, LR3, SP6, KI3 | Prozac | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate | NR | NR | NR |
| Li 2018 | 116 | 105 | 12 weeks | EA | RN4, EX-CA1, ST25, SP6, LI4, LR3, DU20, EX-HN3 | Escitalopram | HAMD score, MENQOL score, FSH, E2, LH | Subcutaneous hematoma (14), | Dizziness, palpitation, stomachache (18) | The 16th week and the 24th week |
| Ma 2009 | 30 | 30 | 8 weeks | MA | HT7, PC7, DU20, EX-HN3, PC6, EX-HN1, ST36, SP6 | Prozac | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, HAMD score, TESS score | None | Dizziness (2), nausea (4) | NR |
| Niu 2017 | 41 | 41 | 6 weeks | MA | BL13, BL14, BL17, BL18, BL13, BL23 | Prozac | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, HAMD score | Dizziness (2), palpitation (1), dry mouth (1), nausea (3) | Dizziness (1), palpitation (2), dry mouth (2), nausea (1) | NR |
| Qiang 2008 | 30 | 30 | 4 weeks | MA | EX-HN1, GB20, BL14, BL18, BL23 | Prozac | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, HAMD score | NR | NR | NR |
| Qian 2009 | 33 | 33 | 6 weeks | MA | BL13, BL14, BL17, BL18, BL13, BL23 | Prozac | HAMD score | Dizziness (2), palpitation (1) | Insomnia (1), akathisia (1), dry mouth (1), nausea (1), palpitation (1), skin symptom (1), excitement (2) | NR |
| Shi 2018 | 30 | 30 | 12 weeks | EA | RN4, EX-CAI, ST25, SP6, LI4, LR3, DU20, EX-HN3 | Escitalopram | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, HAMD score | NR | NR | The 16th week and the 24th week |
| Skn 2015 | 21 | 21 | 12 weeks | EA | RN4, EX-CAI, ST25, SP6, LI4, LR3, DU20, EX-HN3 | Escitalopram | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, HAMD score | NR | NR | NR |
| Wang 2010 | 30 | 30 | 4 weeks | MA (AA) | CV12, CV10, RN6, RN4, RN3, KI17 (left) | Deanxit | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, HAMD score | Palpitation (1) changes of character of stool (2) | Dry mouth and bitter mouth (9), breast distending pain, dreaminess, dysphoria (6) | The 6th week and the 8th week |
| Zhang 2010 | 44 | 46 | 3 months | EA | DU20, PC6, LR3, KI3, SP6, BL13, BL14, BL18, BL13, BL23 | HRT+ Prozac | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, HAMD score, KMI score, FSH, E2, LH | Sweating, dizziness, vomiting (5) | Dry mouth and halitosis (5), nausea (6), dysphoria (2), constipation (6), dreaminess (2), breast distending pain (2) | NR |
| Zhang 2013 | 94 | 94 | 3 months | MA | SP6, BG13, DU24, EX-HN1, HT7 | HRT+ Prozac | Effective rate, HAMD reduction rate, HAMD score, FSH, E2, LH | Feeling pain when inserting needle (2) | Dizziness (5), nausea and vomiting (4), hypersomnia (3) | NR |
EA, electroacupuncture; MA, manual acupuncture; AA, abdominal acupuncture; HRT, hormone replacement therapy; HAMD, Hamilton depression scale; MENQOL, menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire; BDI, back depression inventory; KMI, Kupperman index; NR, not reported.