The effect of auriculotherapy during labor and postpartum on postpartum depression in nulliparous women: a clinical trial study

About 8 to 26% of women suffer from postpartum depression. Therefore, this study was performed with aim to evaluate the effect of auriculotherapy in anxiety reduction points on postpartum depression in nulliparous women.

This randomized clinical trial study was performed on 166 women who were admitted to labor ward in Kamkar hospital in 2018. The subjects were assigned to the intervention and control groups. Auriculotherapy in stress and anxiety reduction points was performed in dilatation 4-6 cm, 6-8 cm and finally 6 hours after delivery. Thus, acupuncture on ear was done between the contractions for 30 seconds in both ears at intervals of 10 minutes. Then in the second stage, depression was assessed between 10-15 days after delivery by Beck questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 21) and Chi-square and Independent t-test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

According to the results, 72 (96%) in the intervention group and 66 (91.7%) in the Auriculotherapy group had minor depression, but mild and moderate depression in the intervention group was less than the control group (p = 0.549).

This study did not show a reduction in maternal depression with acupressure on the ear. It is recommended to examine other points of pressure in the ear and also this intervention should be done for a longer period in terms of performing acupressure on the ear and following more than a period of 14 days.