Clinical study on electroacupuncture treatment of postapoplectic depression

Projective To investigate the curative effect of electroacupuncture on melancholy and neural deficit in patients with postapoplectic depression.Methods Ninety stroke patients confirmed by clinical physical examination and CT or MRI were selected and randomly allocated to an electroacupuncture group of 30 cases, a Fluoxetine(Western medicine) group of 30 cases and a control(basic treatment without antidepressant) group of 30 cases.All the three groups were given similar treatments for stroke,with electroacupuncture added in the electroacupuncture group,Fluoxetine in the Western medicine group and placebo in the control group,for 60 consecutive days.Results HAMD and MESSS scores decreased in the electroacupuncture and Western medicine groups.Barthel index score increased more quickly in the electroacupuncture and Western medicine groups than in the control group(P0.05).The total curative effect was better in the electroacupuncture and Western medicine groups than in the control group.The total curative effect in the electroacupuncture group was similar to that in the Western medicine group.Conclusion Electroacupuncture can relieve depression and promote the recovery of neural function.