Effect of acupuncture plus Tai Ji Quan on the recovery of neurological function and depression state in post-stroke depression patients

Abstract

To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture plus Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi) in recovering the neurological function and treating depression state in post-stroke depression patients, together with a 12-month follow-up. A total of 105 eligible post-stroke depression patients were randomized into an acupuncture plus Tai Ji group (53 cases) and a control group (52 cases) based on their visiting sequence. The patients all received routine treatment and rehabilitation training for stroke. In addition, the control group was given oral administration of citalopram hydrobromide tablets, 1 month as a course of treatment, for 3 courses in total. Meanwhile, the acupuncture plus Tai Ji group received acupuncture and practiced Tai Ji Quan, for 1 month and 12 months respectively. Before the intervention, after 1-month intervention and 12 months later, the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), Barthel index (BI) and Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) were adopted for efficacy evaluation. Prior to the intervention, there were no significant differences in HAMD, NIHSS and BI scores between the two groups (all P>0.05); after 1-month intervention, there were significant between-group differences in NIHSS, BI and HAMD scores (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the 12-month follow-up revealed significant between-group differences in NIHSS, BI and HAMD scores (all P<0.01). In the treatment of stroke, the total effective rate was 84.4% in the acupuncture plus Tai Ji group, significantly higher than 68.9% in the control group (P<0.05); in the treatment of depression, the total effective rate was 86.7% in the acupuncture plus Tai Ji group, significantly higher than 77.8% in the control group (P<0.05). Acupuncture plus Tai Ji Quan can produce a significant efficacy in improving the limb motor function and depression in post-stroke depression patients.