Acupuncture on 5-hydroxytryptamine levels and clinical outcomes in depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Figure 1  Flow diagram of study selection process.

Figure 2  Risk of bias assessment for included randomized controlled trials.

Figure 3 Meta-analysis of acupuncture for Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores. A: Forest plot of studies reporting Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores; B: Forest plot of studies using HAM-D change scores; C: Leave-one-out sensitivity analysis forest plot of Figure 3A; D: Funnel plot for publication bias. 95%CI: 95% confidence interval.

Figure 4 Meta-analysis of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Self-Rating Scale for the Side Effects scores in acupuncture plus antidepressant treatment. A: Forest plot of studies comparing antidepressants alone vs acupuncture combined with antidepressants (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores); B: Forest plot of studies using Self-Rating Scale for the Side Effects scores; C: Leave-one-out sensitivity analysis forest plot of Figure 4A; D: Leave-one-out sensitivity analysis forest plot of Figure 4B. 95%CI: 95% confidence interval.

Figure 5 Meta-analysis of Self-Rating Depression Scale scores. A: Forest plot of studies reporting Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) total scores; B: Forest plot of studies reporting SDS change scores; C: Leave-one-out sensitivity analysis forest plot of Figure 5A. 95%CI: 95% confidence interval.

Figure 6 Meta-analysis of Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory-II scores. A: Forest plot of studies reporting Beck Depression Inventory-II scores; B: Forest plot of studies reporting Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale scores. 95%CI: 95% confidence interval.

Figure 7 Meta-analysis of Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores. A: Forest plot of studies reporting Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores; B: Forest plot of studies reporting Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores; C: Leave-one-out sensitivity analysis forest plot of Figure 7A. 95%CI: 95% confidence interval.

Figure 8  Meta-analysis of serum 5-hydroxytryptamine.