Efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapies for adult patients with mild and moderate major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

If you or someone you know lives with mild to moderate depression, you may have wondered whether acupuncture could help. A large new research review published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine took a careful look at exactly that question — and the results are encouraging, though not yet definitive.

Researchers analyzed 60 carefully selected studies involving 4,675 adults diagnosed with mild to moderate major depressive disorder (MDD). They compared people who received acupuncture alone, antidepressant medications alone, or a combination of both. They also looked at whether acupuncture helped with a very common companion to depression: insomnia.

Here is what they found. People who received acupuncture — either on its own or alongside antidepressants — showed meaningful reductions in the severity of their depression compared to those taking antidepressants alone. The combination of acupuncture plus antidepressants produced the strongest results overall. Acupuncture also appeared to help relieve insomnia symptoms, which is significant because poor sleep and depression are deeply connected.

On the safety front, the news is reassuring. Any side effects reported from acupuncture were described as mild and temporary — things like minor soreness or slight bruising at needle sites. No serious adverse events were reported in connection with acupuncture treatment.

There is an important caveat. The researchers rated the overall quality of the evidence as low, meaning more rigorous, large-scale studies with longer follow-up periods are still needed before strong clinical recommendations can be made. Not all studies used the same methods, which makes direct comparisons tricky.

Still, for people looking for a complementary approach to managing depression — particularly those who want to reduce medication reliance or address sleep problems alongside mood — acupuncture appears to be a reasonable and safe option to explore with your doctor.

Always seek treatment from a licensed, fully qualified acupuncture practitioner who is experienced in supporting mental health conditions.

This systematic review and meta-analysis (Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2025) evaluated acupuncture's efficacy and safety for mild-to-moderate major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults, synthesizing data from 60 RCTs (n = 4,675). Searches spanned seven databases through March 2025. Three comparator arms were analyzed: acupuncture vs. antidepressants, acupuncture plus antidepressants vs. antidepressants alone, and combination therapy vs. acupuncture alone. Acupuncture monotherapy significantly reduced depression severity vs. antidepressants (SMD = −0.57; 95% CI [−0.87, −0.27]; I² = 86%). Combination therapy demonstrated the largest effect vs. antidepressants alone (SMD = −1.00; 95% CI [−1.18, −0.81]; I² = 77%). Acupuncture plus antidepressants also modestly outperformed acupuncture alone (SMD = −0.38; I² = 18%). Comparable benefits were observed for comorbid insomnia. Adverse effects were mild and transient. GRADE certainty was rated low across outcomes. Subgroup analyses found no significant moderating effect of acupuncture type, assessment scale, or treatment duration. Clinically, acupuncture — particularly as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy — may offer meaningful antidepressant and sleep benefits, though higher-quality trials with long-term follow-up remain necessary.