Recent Research in Acupuncture for Depression: An Overview and Methodological Analysis of Controlled Trials

Depression is a prevalent condition with significant impact on affect, cognition, and daily functioning, affecting individuals globally across all demographics. While conventional treatments exist, a substantial portion of patients do not achieve adequate response or experience side effects, highlighting the need for exploring alternative therapeutic options. Acupuncture, rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, has shown potential in modulating biological pathways relevant to depression. This paper aims to synthesize findings from recent randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of acupuncture for depression and analyse the acupuncture methodologies employed. Therefore, a literature search was conducted in PubMed and SciELO to identify randomized controlled trials published between 2020 and 2025 that evaluated acupuncture as an intervention for depression. The initial search yielded 41 records, with no duplicates. After screening, 31 articles were excluded, and 2 full-text articles could not be retrieved. Eight randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. These studies investigated the efficacy of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in diverse populations, including individuals with post-stroke depression, chronic insomnia, depression in hemodialysis patients, and fibromyalgia. The most frequently used acupuncture points were GV20 and SP6, often in combination, with electroacupuncture commonly applied between GV20 and GV29. The reviewed randomized controlled trials provide promising evidence for the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in alleviating depressive symptoms and improving associated outcomes such as sleep quality, cognitive function, and quality of life across various conditions. Mechanistic insights from these studies and preclinical research suggest that acupuncture may exert its effects through modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, enhancement of neuroplasticity via BDNF signaling, and regulation of neuroendocrine and metabolic pathways. The frequent use of specific acupoints like GV20 and SP6 aligns with traditional Chinese medicine patterns associated with depression. However, limitations such as methodological heterogeneity, small sample sizes, and short follow-up periods necessitate further rigorous research to optimize treatment protocols, elucidate underlying mechanisms, and identify patient-specific predictors of response for effective clinical integration.