--- title: Does acupuncture help anxiety and depression from PMDD? | Niyora description: Real acupuncture reduced anxiety and depression significantly more than sham acupuncture, with anxiety scores dropping 58.9% versus 21.2% and depression score url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effects-of-acupuncture-on-the-symptoms-of-anxiety-and-depression-caused-by-2013/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does acupuncture help anxiety and depression from PMDD? Randomised trial, 2013 # Does acupuncture help anxiety and depression from PMDD? Real acupuncture reduced anxiety and depression significantly more than sham acupuncture, with anxiety scores dropping 58.9% versus 21.2% and depression scores dropping 52.0% versus 19.6%, suggesting a real treatment effect. Moderate study design 30 women with PMDD ## What they did Thirty women with PMDD were assigned to either real acupuncture or sham (fake) acupuncture in a single-blind trial where women did not know which they received. Participants attended twice weekly for two menstrual cycles, totaling 16 sessions. Anxiety and depression were measured using standardized rating scales before and after treatment. ## What they found Both groups improved, but real acupuncture was significantly more effective. Anxiety scores fell 58.9% with real acupuncture compared to 21.2% with sham (p<0.001). Depression scores fell 52.0% with real acupuncture compared to 19.6% with sham (p=0.012). ## What it means for you Acupuncture appears to reduce anxiety and depression in PMDD beyond the placebo effect, with substantial improvements shown. The study was small with only 30 women, and because women may have guessed whether they received real or sham needles based on sensation, some improvement could reflect placebo effect or expectation. 30 women with PMDD 16 acupuncture sessions per person 58.9% anxiety reduction with real acupuncture ## About the study Original title Effects of acupuncture on the symptoms of anxiety and depression caused by premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Carvalho F, Weires K, Ebling M et al. Journal Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society Year 2013 Study design Randomised trial Participants 30 What was tested Real or sham acupuncture twice weekly for two menstrual cycles Read the paper [doi.org/10.1136/acupmed-2013-010394](https://doi.org/10.1136/acupmed-2013-010394) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Acupuncture and acupressure](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-acupuncture/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2026 Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms? Cohort study, 2025 Do women with PMS or PMDD report lower quality of life than women without these conditions? Systematic review, 2024 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? Systematic review, 2022 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? Review, 2017 Can combining different types of treatments help PMS more than using one approach alone? Systematic review, 2014 Do acupuncture and herbal medicine help PMS or PMDD symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗