A Survey of the Clinical Practice Status of Korean Medicine Doctors for Depression: Preliminary Data on Clinical Practice Guidelines

Abstract

Objectives: Although antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy are first-line therapies for patients with depression, they have some limitations. Korean medicine has been traditionally used in Korea to manage depression; however, the current clinical practice status of depression treatment by Korean medicine doctors (KMDs) is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the current clinical practice status of KMDs for depression.Methods: KMDs were surveyed online from October 2021 to November 2021. A total of 712 KMDs responded to the survey.Results: Hwabyung and depressive syndrome were the most frequently diagnosed conditions. Among the patients who initially visited the KM clinic, 51.3% were taking antidepressants, with the majority seeking treatment to alleviate physical symptoms associated with depression. Acupuncture and herbal medicine decoctions were the most commonly administered treatments, with body acupuncture being the preferred modality (average: 2.37 times per week). The preferred acupoints were GV20, HT7, PC6, LI4, SP6, and ST36.Conclusion: This survey provides insights into the clinical practice landscape of KMDs in treating depression. These results will help develop clinical practice guidelines and conduct clinical trials on this topic in the future.