ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To understand the incidence of post-stroke depression (PSD) and the therapeutic effect of acupuncture-moxibustion. METHODS: Five hundred and sixty cases were rating with Hamilton depression scale, and lesion parts, gender, age and property of stroke between the PSD and non-PSD were compared by analysis of variance, chi2 test, and then the patients of PSD were randomly divided into two groups and treated respectively with Prozac-20 and acup-moxibustion at Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Anmian, Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT 7), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taichong (LR 3), Zhaohai (KI 6), Shenmai (BL 62). RESULTS: The total incidence rate of PSD was 43.9%, with no relation to the lesion parts, gender, age and property of stroke (P > 0.05), and there were very significant differences in HAMD scores before and after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.0001), with no significant difference in the effective rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: PSD has a high incidence and influences the recovery of nervous function, and it should be treated at early stage. Acup-moxibustion and Prozac-20 have similar therapeutic effect.
