Meta-analysis on the efficacy of liver-soothing formulas for perimenopausal anxiety and depression

Table 2 Basic characteristics of 12 included studies

Ref.	Country	Duration of study	Sample size (case)		Average age (years)		Interventions		Duration of intervention	Outcome index
			T	C	T	C	T	C
Chen et al[12], 2021	China	September 2014 to August 2016	136	140	50.8 ± 3.9	50.6 ± 4.5	Xiangshao granules	Placebo	8 weeks	(1) (2) (11)
Du et al[13], 2014	China	December 2012 to December 2013	90	90	45.30 ± 2.81	46.09 ± 2.45	Xiaoyao pill	Placebo	8 weeks	(1)
Qian et al[14], 2010	China	June 2003 to June 2008	56	55	51.43 ± 7.01	52.87 ± 6.98	Kunbao Pill, Modified Xiaoyao Pill, and Psychological Intervention	Psychological Intervention	6 months	(8) (9) (11) (12)
Chen et al[15], 2003	China	-	24	14	50.17 ± 3.41	52.14 ± 5.33	Modified Xiaoyao Powder	Premelle	16 weeks	(8) (9) (10) (11)
Xu et al[16], 2021	China	February 2019 to February 2020	60	60	54.21 ± 2.12	54.23 ± 2.24	Conventional Western medicine treatment and Chaihu-Guizhi-Longgu-Muli decoction	Conventional Western medicine treatment and Liuwei Dihuang Pill	3 months	(5) (6) (8)
Ushiroyama et al[17], 2005	China	Not referred to	42	48	52.6 ± 5.7	53.1 ± 4.8	Chai-hu-gui-zhi-gan-jiang-tang	Antidepressant drug treatment	3-6 months	(1) (10)
Cao et al[18], 2019	China	August 2015 to June 2017	156	151	50.5 ± 4.8	50.8 ± 5.1	Psychological treatment and Bushen Tiaogan formula	Psychological treatment and placebo	8 weeks	(3) (4) (8) (9) (10) (11)
Zhang et al[19], 2020	China	January 2016 to March 2018	66	32	52.87 ± 2.99	52.67 ± 2.69	Improved Gengnianchun Formula (I-GNC)	Placebo	12 weeks	(1) (2) (9)
Wang et al[20], 2023	China	October 2016 to November 2017	31	32	49.71 ± 4.29	50.45 ± 4.70	Acupuncture and Bushen Tiaogan Formula	Acupuncture and placebo	8 weeks	(3) (4) (10)
Pei et al[21], 2023	China	September 2021 to September 2022	45	41	55.53 ± 5.82	55.63 ± 6.28	Xiangshao granules and Acupuncture	Acupuncture	8 weeks	(7)
Zhou et al[22], 2021	China	July 2018 to April 2020	51	51	49.62 ± 4.83	49.41 ± 4.72	Livumin tablets and Shugan Bushen Huoxue decoction	Livumin tablets and Gynecological Nourishing Capsule	12 weeks	(3) (4) (8) (9)
Xie et al[23], 2024	China	December 2021 to June 2023	165	162	51.1 ± 4.79	50.9 ± 4.70	Xiangshao granules	Placebo	8 weeks	(3) (4) (11)

T: Treatment; C: Control. (1): Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score; (2): Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale score; (3): Self-Rating Depression Scale score; (4): Self-Rating Anxiety Scale score; (5): Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale score; (6): Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression subscale score; (7): Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score; (8): Serum estrogen (E2): Level; (9): Follicle-stimulating hormone level; (10): Greene Climacteric Scale score; (11): Adverse events or side effects; (12): Kupermann Anxiety Scale score.