Depression
is a common mental health problem that affects people of all genders, ages, and
backgrounds. About two thirds of adults will at some time experience depression
severe enough to interfere with their normal activities (Mintel/YouGov, 2006,
Stewart et al, 2004).
Women are twice as likely as
men to become depressed (Stewart et al, 2004) partly due to hormone changes
occurring pre-menstrually, at menopause, during pregnancy or after childbirth.
Depression causes symptoms such as low mood, loss of interest in
enjoyable activities, anxiety, irritability low self-esteem, disturbed sleep or
appetite, weight change, tiredness, lack of motivation, concentration or
libido, physical pain, and suicidal thoughts.
Depression is likely to result from a combination of genetic,
biochemical, environmental, and psychological factors. It may be triggered by
stressful events, such as bereavement, illness, relationship problems or
financial difficulties.
How acupuncture can help
In general, acupuncture is
believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neurochemical
messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body's
homeostatic mechanisms, thus promoting physical and emotional wellbeing.
Studies indicate that acupuncture can have a specific positive
effect on depression by altering the brain's mood chemistry, increasing
production of serotonin (Sprott 1998) and endorphins (Wang 2010). Acupuncture
may also benefit depression by acting through other neurochemical pathways,
including those involving dopamine (Scott 1997), noradrenaline (Han 1986),
cortisol (Han 2004) and neuropeptide Y (Pohl 2002).
Stimulation of certain acupuncture points has been shown to affect
areas of the brain that are known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress, as
well as promoting relaxation and deactivating the 'analytical' brain which is
responsible for anxiety and worry (Hui 2010). Stress-induced changes in
behaviour and biochemistry may be reversed (Kim 2009).
Some of the most recent
research suggests that depression is associated with dysfunction in the way
that parts of the resting brain interact with each other (Broyd 2008);
acupuncture has been shown to be capable of changing the 'default mode network'
(Dhond 2007), but the effect goes beyond that of expectation/placebo (Hui 2010).
- British Acupuncture Council
