Hargrave, L. (2025). Exploring the lived experience of people who received Ghost Point acupuncture in alleviating the symptoms of depression: An interpretative phenomenological analysis [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Alef Trust & Liverpool John Moores University.
This study employed an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach to explore the lived experiences of individuals using Ghost Point acupuncture within a Western cultural context to alleviate depressive symptoms. It aimed to uncover how participants perceived their treatment experience, its effects on their depressive symptoms, and the meanings they attributed to these experiences. Several clinical studies have investigated the efficacy of acupuncture in treating depression; however, little attention has been given to a specialised form of acupuncture, such as Ghost Points, and qualitative research into the experiences of people receiving these types of alternative treatments compared to conventional therapy. Seven individuals (two males; five females) were voluntarily recruited, all of whom had self-identified as being diagnosed with depression. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews lasting less than an hour. All interviews were transcribed verbatim, and interpretative phenomenological analysis was applied to examine the data. Four overarching themes emerged: Integrating the Eastern Other, Trust in the Practitioner, The Ceremony of Needling: A Technique for Transformation, and Embodied Experience of Healing. The analysis revealed disillusionment with conventional treatments for depression, highlighting alternative approaches such as Ghost Point acupuncture and the embodied experiences related to it—such as the flow of energy (Qi), emotional release linked to stored trauma and suppressed feelings, and an understanding of the body as a vehicle for health and healing. Additionally, participants described various pathways to integrating these experiences, including painting, exercise, and walking in nature. Key findings are somewhat consistent with previous clinical research; however, they are also distinctive due to the qualitative nature of this study. Future directions for research and implications for practice are also discussed.
