Acupuncture for post-stroke depression:a randomized controlled trial

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for post-stroke depression(PSD).Me-thods The randomized,double-blind control study was designed.43 post-stroke patients with current major depression episode(DSM-Ⅳ) were randomly assigned to an observation group(23 cases) and a control group(20 cases).The conventional symptomatic,supportive and anti-infection treatment in neurological internal medicine was applied to all of the cases in two groups.In observation group,acupuncture was applied to Baihui(GV 20),Yintang(EX-HN 3),Sishencong(EX-HN 1),Taichong(LR 3),etc.Additionally,the placebo was taken orally.In control group,acupuncture was applied to non-acupoint spots(5 mm lateral to the acupoints selected in observation group) with shallow needling technique.Moreover,Fluoxetine was taken orally.The treatment lasted for 6 weeks.Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),Asberg antidepressant side effect scale(ASES),adverse response of acupuncture and efficacy were compared between two groups.Results The total effective rate was 73.9%(17/23) in observation group and was 80.0%(16/20) in control group,indicating equivalent efficacy between two groups.After treatment,HAMD score was reduced remarkably as compared with that before treatment in two groups(P0.05).ASES scores in 4 weeks of treatment and after treatment in observation group and ASES score after treatment in control group were reduced remarkably as compared with those before treatment(all P0.05).ASES scores in 4 weeks of treatment and after treatment in observation group were reduced much more remarkably as compared with those in control group(both P0.05).The incidences of adverse response of acupuncture were 13.0%(3/23) and 15.0%(3/20) respectively in observation group and control group,indicating that the adverse response was transient and had not recurred after symptomatic measures.Conclusion Acupuncture for PSD is as effective as fluoxetine,without obvious drug-induced adverse reaction involved.