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This systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether acupuncture is effective and safe for people experiencing chronic pain alongside depression — a common and difficult-to-treat combination. Researchers searched eight international and regional databases up to March 2025 and identified ten randomised controlled trials involving 761 participants.
The analysis found that when acupuncture was combined with conventional medications, it outperformed medication alone in both reducing depressive symptoms and relieving pain. When acupuncture was compared directly against medication as a standalone treatment, results were broadly comparable — there was no statistically significant difference in depression or pain scores between the two approaches. Notably, acupuncture was associated with a meaningfully better safety profile, with significantly fewer adverse effects than medication.
Subgroup analysis suggested that a four-week course of acupuncture may be particularly effective for improving mood symptoms, whereas longer treatment durations appeared more beneficial for pain relief. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluations system, and risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool.
The authors note limitations including the relatively small number of included studies and the need for further high-quality trials to strengthen these findings.
Conclusion: Acupuncture appears to offer comparable antidepressant and pain-relieving effects to conventional oral medications, with fewer side effects, and may provide additional benefit when used alongside medication for depression-associated chronic pain.
Source: Zhao H, Gao Y, Zhang K and colleagues. Frontiers in psychiatry (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 42305850) · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1845974