Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone in the treatment of depression in college students

and explore its effect on serum 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT). Methods Sixty undergraduates with depression were divided into acupuncture-moxibustion group and medication group according to the random number table

with 30 patients in each group. The patients in acupuncture-moxibustion group received acupuncture and moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at acupoints on Shaoyang meridian according to the method of "rotating the pivot and regulating the qi"

one time every other day. The patients in medication group received oral administration of fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule 20 mg once a day

and both groups were treated continuously for 8 weeks. The scores of Hamilton depression(HAMD-17) scale

self-rating depression scale(SDS) and serum 5-HT content before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with before treatment

the HAMD-17 and SDS scores of the acupuncture-moxibustion group began to decrease after 2 weeks of treatment(P<0.05); while the HAMD-17 and SDS scores of the the medication group began to decrease after 4 weeks of treatment(P<0.05). After 2

4 and 8 weeks of treatment

the HAMD-17 and SDS scores of the acupuncture-moxibustion group decreased more significantly than the medication group(P<0.05). The 5-HT contents of the two groups were significantly higher than those before treatment(P<0.05)

and there was no significant difference in serum 5-HT content between the two groups(P>0.05). The adverse reaction score of the acupuncture-moxibustion group was lower than that of the medication group(P<0.05). The total effective rate of the acupuncture-moxibustion group was 92.86%(26/28)

better than the medication group 81.48%(22/27

P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture combined with seed-sized moxa cone moxibustion is more effective than oral administration of fluoxetine hydrochloride in treating college students' depression

and acupuncture combined with moxibustion has a faster onset and fewer adverse reactions in the treatment of college students' depression.