Table 2.
Baseline characteristics
| Variable | All participants (n = 70) | Control (n = 20) | Treatment (n = 50) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, y | 49.2 ± 11.2 | 44.8 ± 10.3 | 50.9 ± 11.1 | 0.063 | |
| Female gender, % | 49 (70.0) | 14 (70.0) | 34 (68.0) | 0.987 | |
| Marital status, | 0.228 | ||||
| Single | 29 (41.4) | 7 (35.0) | 22 (44.0) | ||
| Married/cohabiting | 31 (44.3) | 9 (45.0) | 22 (44.0) | ||
| Divorced/widowed | 10 (14.3) | 4 (20.0) | 6 (12.0) | ||
| Education level, % | 0.430 | ||||
| Never received education | 1 (1.43) | 0 (0.00) | 1 (2.00) | ||
| Primary School level | 2 (2.86) | 0 (0.00) | 2 (4.00) | ||
| Secondary School level | 33 (47.1) | 9 (45.0) | 24 (48.0) | ||
| University level or higher | 34 (48.6) | 11 (55.0) | 23 (46.0) | ||
| Occupation % | 0.308 | ||||
| Professional | 21 (30.0) | 6 (30.0) | 15 (30.0) | ||
| Non-professional | 32 (45.7) | 12 (60.0) | 20 (40.0) | ||
| Technician | 3 (4.29) | 0 (0.00) | 3 (6.0) | ||
| Non-technician | 3 (4.29) | 0 (0.00) | 3 (6.0) | ||
| Housewife | 8 (11.4) | 1 (5.00) | 7 (14.0) | ||
| Student | 1 (1.43) | 0 (0.00) | 1 (2.00) | ||
| Other | 2 (2.86) | 1 (5.00) | 1 (2.00) | ||
| Refuse to answer | 0 (0.00) | 0 (0.00) | 0 (0.00) | ||
| Depression duration, y | 10.8 ± 10.4 | 10.3 ± 8.48 | 12.4 ± 12.1 | 0.576 | |
| Antidepressant, % | 0.365 | ||||
| Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, SSRI | 48 (68.6) | 14 (70.0) | 34 (68.0) | ||
| Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, SNRI | 9 (12.9) | 3 (15.0) | 6 (12.0) | ||
| Dopamine reuptake blocker | 3 (0.04) | 0 (0.00) | 3 (0.06) | ||
| Othera | 10 (0.14) | 2 (0.10) | 8 (0.16) | ||
| Alcohol drinker, % | |||||
| Never | 46 (65.7) | 9 (45.00) | 37 (74.0) | 0.069 | |
| Occasional | 24 (34.3) | 11(55.0) | 13 (26.0) | ||
| Frequent | 0 (0.00) | 0(0.00) | 0 (0.00) | ||
| Smoker, % | |||||
| Never | 67 (95.7) | 17 (85.0) | 50 (100.00) | 0.110 | |
| Occasional | 2 (2.86) | 2 (10.0) | 0 (0.00) | ||
| Frequent | 1 (1.43) | 1 (5.00) | 0 (0.00) | ||
| Drug abuser, % | 0 (0.00) | 0 (0.00) | 0 (0.00) | / | |
| TCM diagnosis | 0.102 | ||||
| Yang-Deficiency | 7 (10.00) | 1 (5.00) | 6 (12.0) | ||
| Liver-Qi Stagnation | 24 (34.3) | 7 (35.0) | 17 (34.0) | ||
| Both | 39 (55.7) | 12 (60.0) | 27 (54.0) | ||
a Other antidepressants such as noradrenergic antagonists, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or tricyclic antidepressants