ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical effect of post stroke depression treated by differentiation of spleen and stomach, so as to search better treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-three cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture and moxibustion group and a medication group. In acupuncture and moxibustion group, acupuncture and grain sized moxibustion were given at Zhongwan (CV 12), Zhangmen (LV 13), Zusanli (ST 36), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21); in medication group, Fluoxetine was orally taken for 20 mg after breakfast. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. Prospective information of spleen and stomach syndrome was collected before treatment; the therapeutic effects and adverse reactions were evaluated by integral scale of spleen and stomach syndrome, Hamilton Depression (HAMD) Scale and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) at the first, second and fourth weekend of treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prospective information collection of spleen and stomach syndrome before treatment indicated that among these 63 cases of post stroke depression, poor appetite, constipation and less drinking appeared for many times. The cured and markedly effective rate was 81.8% (27/33) in acupuncture and moxibustion group and 63.3% (19/30) in medication group, manifesting the same curative effect (P > 0. 05); the integral scale of spleen and stomach syndrome reduced in both groups (P < 0.001, P < 0.05), and it was superior in acupuncture and moxibustion group to that in medication group. In acupuncture and moxibustion group, HAMD score reduced obviously at the 1st and 2nd week and after treatment ( all P < 0.001), and it was superior to that in medication group at the 1st and 2nd week (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The TESS showed that the adverse reactions intervention in acupuncture and moxibustion group was superior to that in medication group at the 1st and 2nd week (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The patients who get post stroke depression commonly suffer from varying degrees of spleen and stomach functional disturbance. The curative effect of post stroke depression treated by differentiation of spleen and stomach is quick and stable, with less adverse reaction and high safety.</p>