Clinical study on treatment of post-stroke depression by scalp acupuncture plus body acupuncture

Abstract

To explore the best method to treat post-stroke depression. 60 Cases of the patients with post-stroke depression were selected and divided randomly into the two groups, 30 cases in each group. The treatment group was treated by scalp acupuncture plus body acupuncture, and the control group was treated by oral administration of Fluoxetine. The therapeutic effects were assessed after 30 d of the treatments. The total effective rate was 90.0% in the treatment group, with average effective time of 5 d, and was 80.0% in the control group, with average effective time of 15 d. The comparison of the total effective rates between the two groups was not significant statistically (P>0.05). But the comparison of the average effective time was significant statistically (P<0.05). The therapeutic effect is positive in the treatment of post-stroke depression by scalp acupuncture plus body acupuncture, similar to the therapeutic effect of Fluoxetine, but faster in the effective time.