Prescription of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Pattern-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Depression: A Systematic Review
Table 4
Effective rate and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) score of combined pattern-based Chinese herbal medicine treatment and antidepressants for depression.
Chinese herbal formula
Type of cases
Mean effective rate in % (range, SD, 95% CI)
Mean HAMD change score (range, 95% CI)
Liver qi depression
Xiaoyao decoction/pill ( = 9)
Depression ( = 6); poststroke depression ( = 3)
86.0 (70.0–94.3, 85.1–87.0)
19.1 (11.4–23.2, 18.4–19.9)
Banxia Houpu decoction ( = 1)
Depression ( = 1)
97.2 (NA)
16.0 (NA)
Kaiyu Quhuo decoction ( = 1)
Depression ( = 1)
100 (NA)
NR
All ( = 11)
88.3 (70.0–100.0, 87.4–89.2)
17.8 (11.4–23.2, 17.5–18.2)
Liver depression and spleen deficiency
Xiaoyao decoction/pill ( = 8)
Depression ( = 8)
86.0 (66.7–95.1, 84.6–87.4)
21.5 (20.4–23.0, 21.3–21.7)
Self-invented formula ( = 1)
Depression ( = 1)
91.7 (NA)
NR
Kuaiwei Shugan pill ( = 1)
Depression ( = 1)
NR
12.2 (NA)
All ( = 10)
86.8 (66.7–95.1, 85.6–88.0)
20.1 (12.2–23.0, 19.6–20.5)
Dual deficiency of the heart and spleen
Guipi decoction ( = 1)
Depression comorbid diabetes ( = 1)
92.1 (NA)
NR
Ningcao Wangyou decoction ( = 2)
Depression ( = 2)
53.8 (NA)a
16.8 (NA)a
Ganmai Dazao decoction plus Suanzaoren decoction ( = 1)
Poststroke depression ( = 1)
100.0 (NA)
6.0 (NA)
All ( = 4)
77.0 (53.8–100.0, 68.7–85.2)
11.4 (6.0–16.8, 9.5–13.3)
Liver depression and qi stagnation
Chaihu Shugan decoction ( = 3)
Depression ( = 2); poststroke depression ( = 1)
80.0 (NA)a
15.0 (8.9–21.1, 12.8–17.1)
Xiaoyao decoction/pill ( = 2)
Depression ( = 2)
NR
NR
All ( = 5)
80.0 (NA)
15.0 (8.9–21.1, 12.8–17.1)
All studies ( = 24)b
86.3 (53.8–100.0, 85.5–87.2)
17.7 (6.0–22.6, 17.4–18.0)
Only one study presented the data; bfive studies studied more than one TCM pattern; NA: not applicable; NR: not reported.
