ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus Paroxetine in treating depression due to liver-qi stagnation, for seeking a more effective treatment for this disease.Method Sixty patients with depression due to liver-qi stagnation were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture plus Paroxetine, while the control group was by Paroxetine alone, successively for 8 weeks. Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Chinese medicine syndrome and sign score, and central neurotransmitters were observed before and after the treatment, for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy.Result The total effective rate was 96.6% in the treatment group versus 71.4% in the control group, and the treatment group was superior to the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture plus Paroxetine is an effective method in treating depression due to liver-qi stagnation.