Review Article

Prescription of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Pattern-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Depression: A Systematic Review

Table 3

Effective rate and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) score of pattern-based Chinese herbal medicine treatment for depression.

Chinese herbal formula Type of casesMean effective rate in % (range, 95% CI)Mean HAMD change score (range, 95% CI)

Liver qi depression
 Xiaoyao decoction/pill ( = 4)Depression ( = 4) 84.7 (70.0–93.3, 80.8–84.7)19.1 (12.8–26.0, 18.4–19.9)
 Chaihu Shugan decoction ( = 2)Depression ( = 1); poststroke depression ( = 1)90.0 (86.7–93.3, 88.8–91.2)15.0 (14.6–15.4, 14.9–15.1)
 Jieyu Heji ( = 1)Depression ( = 1)51.0 (NA)NR
 Yushu pill ( = 1)Depression ( = 1)74.3 (NA)NR
 All ( = 8)85.1 (51.0–93.3, 77.3–80.9)17.7 (12.8–26.0, 17.2–18.63)
Liver depression and spleen deficiency
 Xiaoyao decoction/pill ( = 1)Depression comorbid diabetes ( = 1)NR7.3 (NA)
 Yiqiyangyin Shuganjieyu decoction ( = 1)Depression comorbid diabetes ( = 1)83.3 (NA)12.1 (NA)
 Chaihu Shugan decoction ( = 1)Depression ( = 1)92.1 (NA)NR
 All ( = 3)87.7 (83.3–92.1, 86.2–89.2)9.7 (7.3–12.1, 8.9–10.5)
Dual deficiency of the heart and spleen
 Guipi decoction ( = 1)Depression ( = 1)NRNR
 Xiaochaihu Tang ( = 1)Depression ( = 1)NRNR
 Anshen Jieyu Fang decoction ( = 1)Depression comorbid diabetes ( = 1)NR10.7 (NA)
 Jieyu Yi Hao ( = 1)Depression ( = 1)90.0 (NA)11.4 (NA)
 Shexiang Baoxin pill ( = 1)Depression ( = 1)92.2 (NA)NR
 All ( = 5)91.5 (90.0–92.2, 91.3–91.6)10.8 (10.7–11.4, 10.6–11.0)
Liver depression and qi stagnation
 Chaihu Shugan decoction ( = 2) Depression ( = 2) 89.8 (86.7–93.0, 88.8–90.9)17.3 (13.9–20.7, 16.2–18.4)
 Shujiele Wutang pill ( = 1) Depression ( = 1)91.4 (NA)18 (NA)
 All ( = 3)90.4 (86.7–93.0, 89.7–91.0)17.5 (13.9–20.7, 16.9–18.2)
All studies ( = 18) a85.0 (51.0–93.33, 84.1–85.9)15.4 (7.3–26.0, 15.0–15.8)

One study studied more than one TCM pattern; NA: not applicable; NR: not reported.