Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) investigation of Laser Acupuncture on Acupoints useful in Mild to Moderate Unipolar Depression.

INTERVENTION: 1. Laser acupuncture to 4 acupoints found by double blind randomised controlled trial to be highly significant in the treatment of depression, and to a fifth acupoint KI3 added for anxiety management according to Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis or TCM diagnosis). 2. The acupoints are lasered in random order and the process repeated once so each acupoint is lasered twice in a single session. 3. The fibreoptic laser is a 804nm continuous beam laser, 25mW delivered over 20 seconds per block (0.5Joules).Total 35 minutes in the scanner, actual laser time being 4. Nine Rest blocks alternate with eight Active laser blocks. Blocks are 20 seconds duration. 5. Acupoints used were LR14, CV14, HT7 and LR8 from the randomised controlled trial amd KI3. LR14 on right at 6th intercostal space, midclavicular line CV14 in epigastrium about 10cm from the xiphisternum HT7 is at left medial wrist LR8 is at medial knee on Left between semimembranosis and semitendinosus muscles. KI3 is at right medial knee. CONDITION: Unipolar depression PRIMARY OUTCOME: Brain positive and negative activation patterns from laser acupuncture to acupoints CV14, LR14, HT7, LR8 and KI3 in unipolar depressed subjects SECONDARY OUTCOME: Nil INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1.Unipolar depression according to Diagnostic and Statistical Mental Health Manual Version IV ( DSM‐IV) 2.Montgomery Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score over 12 3.Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM‐D) score over 12 4. Able to give informed consent 5. Depression of less than 2 years duration 6. Right handed