Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)for depression in late pregnancy and impacts on inflammatory cytokines.Methods A total of 150 pregnant women with depression in late pregnancy were randomized into a high intensity group(n=52)

a low intensity group(n=49)and a control group(n=49).TEAS was applied at bilateral Neiguan(PC 6)and Shenmen(HT 7)for 6 weeks.The intensities of TEAS in the high intensity group

the low intensity group and the control group were 10

5 and 0 mA

respectively.During the process of TEAS

the blood pressure

pulse

uterine contraction and the fetal heart rate were recorded.Depression was evaluated by 24-item Hamilton depression scale(HAMD)before TEAS and after 2-week

4-week

6-week treatment.Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)

interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)before and after 6-week treatment.Delivery outcomes were observed.The correlation was analyzed between HAMD difference value and the difference values of TNF-α

IL-1βand IL-6

respectively.Results The blood pressure

pulse and fetal heart rate had no statistical significance before and after treatment in the three groups(P>0.05).The HAMD scores at all the time points were lower than that before treatment in the high intensity group(P<0.05)

which were lower compared with those in the low intensity group and the control group(P<0.05).The HAMD score in the low intensity group decreased after 6-week treatment compared with that before treatment and was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The serum levels of IL-1βand IL-6 in the high intensity group decreased compared with those before treatment and were lower compared with those in the low intensity group and the control group after 6-week treatment(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the deliver outcomes among the three groups(P>0.05).The variation of HAMD score did not have significant correlation with those of TNF-α

IL-1βand IL-6(P>0.05).Conclusion TEAS is safe and effective for depression in late pregnancy and can regulate the serum levels of IL-1βand IL-6 without influencing on delivery outcome.