Traditional Chinese Acupuncture for Poststroke Depression: A Single-Blind Double-Simulated Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and possible side-effect of treating poststroke depression patients by traditional Chinese body acupuncture. DESIGN: Single-blind double-simulated randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Inpatient wards of neurology and rehabilitation departments. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight (68) participants who met the criteria were randomly assigned into two groups, 34 cases (32 completed) into intervention group and 34 cases (33 completed) into control group. INTERVENTIONS: Body acupuncture (Shuigou GV 26, Neiguan PC 6, and Zusanli ST 36) and oral placebo were used in intervention group while fluoxetine and minimal nontraditional acupuncture (minimally active penetrating) were used in control group. Patients in both groups were treated separately once a day for 6 weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes were measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), and side-effects were measured using the Side Effect Rating Scale (SERS) of Asberg and a self-designed needling adverse events scale. Clinical effects of both groups were statistically valued before treatment, week-2, week-6, and month-3. RESULTS: The total curative effects of both groups are similar (p > 0.05; evaluated in week-6 and month-3), while intervention group had an earlier onset time at week-2 (p < 0.05). The intervention group has fewer side-effects in week-2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Body acupuncture was effective in reducing stroke patients' depressive symptoms and had fewer side-effects. It should be considered as an option for neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke.