The Russian Ministry of Health has officially incorporated electroacupuncture and electronic brain neurostimulation into the updated standard for treating depression in adults. The corresponding document was published on the official legal acts portal in September 2026, expanding the range of available non-drug therapies and preventive methods for depression.
Updated Standard for Depression Treatment
For the first time, the new standard for treating depression in adults includes the use of electroacupuncture and electronic brain neurostimulation among the recommended non-drug methods. These procedures complement existing techniques such as hypoxic exposure and low-intensity laser therapy with intravenous blood irradiation.
The document published on the official legal acts website emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to depression therapy, incorporating various physiotherapeutic procedures, which can increase treatment effectiveness and reduce reliance on medications.
Why Electroacupuncture and Electronic Neurostimulation Matter
Electroacupuncture is a method based on applying electrical impulses to acupuncture points, which enhances neurotransmission and regulates emotional states. Electronic neurostimulation targets specific brain areas to normalize nervous system activity.
Psychiatrist Nadezhda Solovyova previously noted the high effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy and plasmapheresis, supporting the promise of physiotherapeutic methods—now supplemented by electroacupuncture and electronic neurostimulation—in treating depression in adult patients.
Changes in Medication Therapy
The new standard also removes several drugs from the list used to treat depression, including phenothiazine derivatives—promazine and thioridazine—as well as chlorprothixene, olanzapine, and imipramine. This reflects a reassessment of their effectiveness and safety under current clinical conditions.
Phasing out these drugs may encourage doctors and patients to adopt safer, innovative non-drug methods such as electroacupuncture, potentially lowering the risk of side effects and improving patients’ quality of life.
Economic and Social Context
The introduction of electroacupuncture and electronic neurostimulation into depression treatment standards could impact healthcare spending patterns. The cost of a single electroacupuncture session in public clinics may range from 500 to 1500 rubles, making it an affordable alternative to expensive medication courses.
Moreover, expanding non-drug methods helps reduce the overall burden on psychiatric hospitals and raises rehabilitation rates among patients, which is crucial for improving healthcare efficiency in Russia.
Implementation Prospects and Therapy Development
The official inclusion of electroacupuncture in treatment standards will create new opportunities for medical institutions in regions where such methods were not previously used. Training specialists and purchasing the necessary equipment may begin as early as the fourth quarter of 2026.
The Ministry of Health plans to monitor the effectiveness of these new methods over the next two years, allowing assessment of their impact on patient recovery and informing future updates to depression treatment standards in Russia.
Summary: Electroacupuncture and electronic neurostimulation are officially recognized by the Ministry of Health as effective non-drug treatments for adult depression.