Chinese Medicine syndrome differentiation has been a prevalent therapy in China for thousands
of years. It is based on patients' symptoms, pulse, tongue and coating on the tongue.
Therefore, the syndrome of patients and corresponding Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may
vary.
This multicenter prospective cohort studies the efficiency and safety of TCM compared with
antidepressants. A total number of 4600 cases with primary depression are expected to be
collected and divided into 3 cohorts based on the patients' requirement and choices. Patients
in one group will receive TCM, and patients in the other two groups will respectively receive
antidepressants only and integrated treatment of TCM and antidepressants. This study has 2
phases: treating period and the follow-up.
The main purpose of this long-term study is to evaluate the efficiency of TCM compared with
antidepressants in reducing relapse and suicide rate, changing lifestyle, improving patient
compliance as well as the safety.
Details
Lead Sponsor:
The Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
Collaborators:
Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital Capital Medical University First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang Chinese Medicine University Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Wu Xi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Xiamen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine