BACKGROUND: Subthreshold depression (SD), characterized by persistent depressive symptoms (2-4 symptoms for at least 2 weeks) that do not meet the diagnostic criteria for a depressive disorder, significantly impairs quality of life and serves as a precursor to major depressive disorder. With a prevalence of 25% and rising, early intervention is critical to prevent progression. However, no standard treatment protocols have been established, making the treatment of SD challenging.

CASE REPORT: A 21-year-old female patient presented with symptoms including low mood, lack of interest in activities, fatigue, and sleep disturbances for up to 6 months, that were attributed to occupational stress. She was diagnosed with SD and received a combination of long-snake-like moxibustion and acupuncture therapy twice a week for 6 weeks. Long-snake-like moxibustion involved the placement of 6 3-hole moxa boxes lined with 2-mm-thickness ginger slices, sequentially positioned along the Du meridian and the first lateral line of the Bladder Meridian. At the same time, bilateral acupoints Xinshu (BL15), Ganshu (BL18), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Hegu (LI4), and Taichong (LR3) were chosen for manual acupuncture stimulation. After treatment, the patient showed notable improvements in mood, sleep quality, quality of life, and stress levels, with these enhancements maintained at 6-month follow-up. Furthermore, there was a documented decrease in her adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels.

CONCLUSIONS: In view of the current dearth of SD treatment options, the combination of long-snake-like moxibustion and acupuncture therapy may serve as a promising complementary and alternative treatment approach. However, further rigorous research is necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: Acupuncture Therapy, Depressive Disorder, Moxibustion