Acupuncture and acupressure with improved cancer-related depression of retrospective studies

Cancer-related depression represents one of the most significant challenges faced by oncology patients, affecting not only quality of life but also prognosis and survival. This mental health problem is very common among people with cancer, affecting up to 58% of patients, being particularly prevalent in lung cancer cases. When compared with the general population, oncology patients show significantly higher rates of depression, and studies demonstrate that those with depressive symptoms have 26% greater mortality, while those with a diagnosis of major depression present 39% higher mortality. Currently, conventional antidepressants are the standard treatment for cancer-related depression, but these medications present important limitations, including slow onset of action, short-duration effects, high tolerance rate, and adverse effects that can affect between 31% and 60% of patients.

In this context, Chinese researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture and acupressure in the treatment of cancer-related depression. The study was carried out through a comprehensive search in national and international medical databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Chinese databases, looking for randomized clinical trials published through June 2022. The researchers selected only studies that compared acupuncture and acupressure with antidepressant medications in the treatment of patients with cancer and depression. To evaluate the results, they used internationally validated scales, such as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Self-Rating Depression and Anxiety Scale, and quality-of-life questionnaires specific to oncology patients.

The methodology followed rigorous international scientific standards to ensure the reliability of the results.

The results of this research were impressive and revealed the superiority of traditional Chinese medicine techniques. Of the 16 studies included in the final analysis, involving 1,019 patients with various types of cancer, the data showed that the total efficacy rate was 72.5% for patients treated with conventional antidepressants, while for those treated with acupuncture and acupressure, the rate reached 90%. This represents a difference of 17.5% in favor of the traditional techniques. The statistical analysis confirmed that there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics and cancer types, which strengthens the validity of the results.

Patients treated with acupuncture and acupressure showed significant improvements in all aspects evaluated: reduction in depression scores, decreased anxiety, improvement in sleep quality, and increased overall quality of life. In addition, important improvements were observed in physical function, cognitive function, emotional function, and social function, as well as reduction in symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, pain, breathing difficulty, diarrhea, and insomnia.

For patients and healthcare professionals, these results offer a hopeful and practical perspective for the management of oncologic depression. Acupuncture and acupressure presented themselves as safe and effective alternatives to antidepressant medications, with important advantages including lower risk of adverse effects, faster onset of action, and better patient acceptance. The study demonstrated that these techniques can be used as part of an integrated approach in cancer treatment, complementing conventional oncologic care. For professionals, this means having additional tools at their disposal that can reduce dependence on medications, decrease the risk of pharmacological resistance, and provide more personalized care.

The World Health Organization already recognizes acupuncture as a safe and effective treatment for depression, and this study reinforces its specific application in the oncologic context. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland have already incorporated these practices into their public healthcare systems as non-pharmacological interventions for the management of pain and other symptoms.

It is important to recognize some limitations of this study that should be considered in the interpretation of the results. First, most of the data included came from studies conducted in China, where acupuncture is a well-established and widely accepted medical practice, which may influence both the quality of the application of the techniques and patient response. Second, there was variability between studies regarding the specific acupuncture protocols used, acupuncture points selected, and treatment duration, which may have contributed to heterogeneity in the results. Third, not all studies adequately specified the previous use of antidepressant medications by the participants, which may have influenced the results.

Finally, some physical condition assessments were not performed completely consistently across all included clinical trials.

Despite these limitations, this research represents an important advance in understanding therapeutic options for cancer-related depression. The results suggest that acupuncture and acupressure are not only as effective as conventional medications but may offer additional benefits in terms of safety and quality of life. For patients facing the dual challenge of cancer and depression, these techniques offer real hope for improvement without the side effects frequently associated with antidepressants. The study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting an integrated approach in oncologic care, combining conventional treatments with safe and effective complementary therapies.

Future studies should focus on standardizing treatment protocols and including more geographically diverse populations to confirm these promising findings in different cultural contexts and healthcare systems.