An Update about Mechanisms of Acupuncture Treatment for Mental Disorders: We Focus on Signaling Pathways, Neurotransmitters, and Neural Circuits.

Researchers reviewed how acupuncture works to treat mental health conditions, focusing on scientific mechanisms in the brain and body. Mental health disorders affect millions of people and are increasing each year, placing a heavy burden on society. Current treatments like therapy and medication have limitations—therapy doesn't always work well enough, and medications often cause side effects or lead to symptom return when stopped. This review examined acupuncture's effects on anxiety, depression, addiction, insomnia, PTSD, developmental disorders, eating disorders, and sexual dysfunction based on classifications in the DSM-5, the standard manual for mental health diagnosis. The study found that acupuncture works through three main pathways: regulating signaling pathways related to inflammation and oxidative stress, influencing important brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and glutamate, and affecting specific brain regions involved in mental health. The most commonly used acupuncture points for mental health treatment are GV20 (on the top of the head), ST36 (on the lower leg), and HT7 (on the wrist). Various acupuncture techniques showed benefits, including traditional needle insertion, electroacupuncture, hand acupuncture, laser acupuncture, and combined drug-acupuncture approaches. The researchers concluded that acupuncture offers a promising complementary treatment for mental disorders by targeting multiple biological systems simultaneously, though more research is still needed to fully understand all mechanisms. If you're considering acupuncture for mental health concerns, consult with a licensed acupuncturist experienced in treating psychological conditions.

This comprehensive review examined acupuncture mechanisms for mental disorders classified per DSM-5 criteria, covering anxiety, depression, substance addiction, insomnia, PTSD, neurodevelopmental disorders, eating disorders, and sexual dysfunction. The analysis identified GV20, ST36, and HT7 as the most frequently employed points across conditions. Mechanisms operate through three primary pathways: modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling cascades, regulation of neurotransmitter systems (glutamate, GABA, dopamine, serotonin and their receptors), and influence on specific neural circuits including the ACC, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, PVN (anxiety), and PFC, NAc, VTA, hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (addiction). Techniques reviewed included traditional retention, electroacupuncture, hand acupuncture, laser acupuncture, and pharmacoacupuncture. Clinical takeaway: Acupuncture demonstrates multi-modal therapeutic action on mental disorders through simultaneous regulation of neurochemical, inflammatory, and neural network pathways, supporting its use as complementary treatment. Additional rigorous clinical trials with standardized protocols are needed to establish specific treatment parameters for individual mental health conditions.