Clinical study of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of post-stroke depression

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on depressive symptoms in post-stroke depression, and to compare its efficacy with that of Prozac. METHODS: 60 patients with post-stroke depression were randomly divided into 2 groups. All patients received general stroke treatment: control of blood pressure and blood glucose, treatment for cerebral infarction such as promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and general acupuncture at body points (points on the affected side). In addition, the treatment group received acupuncture and moxibustion as follows: points: Baihui, Shenmen, Sishencong and Yintang. For wind-phlegm obstructing the collaterals and liver qi stagnation, Fenglong, Yinlingquan, Tiantu and Lianquan were added; for hyperactivity of liver yang and internal stagnant fire, Xingjian and Xiaxi were added; for qi deficiency with blood stasis and deficiency of heart and spleen, Qihai, Xuehai, Xinshu and Pishu were added; for liver and kidney insufficiency with depression injuring the spirit, Taixi, Guanyuan, Ganshu and Shenshu were added. Control group: oral Prozac. All patients were scored with the HAMD depression scale and the MESSS neurological deficit scale before treatment, and with the HAMD depression scale after treatment. RESULTS: Within both the treatment and control groups, HAMD scores before and after treatment showed significant statistical differences, P<0.05. The comparison of scores between the treatment and control groups showed no significant statistical difference, P>0.05. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical observation confirms that acupuncture mainly at Baihui, Shenmen, Sishencong and Yintang, combined with syndrome-differentiation-based supplementary points, has a significant clinical effect in treating post-stroke depression, with a total effective rate of 93.33%, and no significant difference in clinical efficacy compared with the Western medicine Prozac control group (P0.05).