Acupuncture for depression in pregnancy

A new study demonstrates that acupuncture may be an effective treatment for depression during pregnancy.

"Depression during pregnancy is an issue of concern because it has negative effects on both the mother and the baby as well as the rest of the family," said Dr Schnyer, one of the study’s authors. About 20 percent of women have increased symptoms of depression during pregnancy.

The results showed that the women who received acupuncture experienced a significantly greater decrease in depression severity compared to control groups. "The results of our study show that the acupuncture protocol we tested could be a viable treatment option for depression during pregnancy," said Dr Schnyer (source: Psych Central).