Clinical Observation of Acupuncture plus Acupoint Injection for DepressionAfter Ischemic Stroke / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of acupuncture plus acupoint injection in improving the depression state and quality of life (QOL) in patients with depression after ischemic stroke (syndrome differentiated as blood stagnation obstructing collaterals).MethodAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the eligible subjects were enrolled and randomized into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture plus acupoint injection, while the control group was by oral administration of Fluoxetine. They were evaluated by using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Barthel Index (BI) before treatment and after 2-month treatment.ResultAfter 2-month treatment, there was no significant difference in comparing the anti-depressionefficacy between the two groups (P>0.05). The BI score of the treatment group was significantly better than that of the control group after 2-month treatment (P<0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture plus acupoint injection is effective in improving the depression state in the patients with depression after ischemic stroke (syndrome differentiated as blood stagnation obstructing collaterals); after 2-month treatment, it can produce an equivalent therapeutic efficacy compared with oral administration of Fluoxetine.Acupuncture plus acupoint injection is superior to the control in improving the QOL of the patients.