Evaluation of the curative effect of acupuncture manipulation of regulating governor vessel and unblocking brain on the patients with post stroke depression associated with anxiety

Abstract

ObjectiveTo observe the comprehensive curative effect of acupuncture manipulation of regulating governor vessel and unblocking brain for post stroke depression associated with anxiety. MethodsSixty-four patients with post stroke depression associated with anxiety were randomly divided into 2 groups according to the random numbers generated by spss16.0 software, the group of acupuncture manipulation of regulating governor vessel and unblocking brain (group A) and medication group (group B), with 32 patients in each group. Acupuncture manipulation of regulating governor vessel and unblocking brain was performed in group A, Băihuì (百会GV 20), Shéntíng (神庭GV 24), Yămén (哑门GV 15) and Dànzhōng (膻中CV 17), Gānshū (肝俞BL 18), Xīnshū (心俞BL 15), Shènshū (肾俞BL 23), Tàichōng (太冲LR 3), Tàixī (太溪KI 3), Shénmén (神门HT 7) and Nèiguān (内关PC 6) were selected. The treatment was conducted for once a day, and 5 times a week. Escitalopram oxalate tablets were given orally to the patients in group B for once a day. The treatment was conducted for 8 consecutive weeks in each group. The scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), Barthel index (BI) and Fugl–Meyer assessment (FMA) in the two groups before and after treatment were compared. ResultsComparison with the same group before treatment, HAMD score and HAMA sore in the two groups after treatment for 4 weeks and 8 weeks were all obviously lower than that in the same group before treatment (all P < 0.01); after treatment for 8 weeks, BI score and FMA score in the two groups were all significantly higher than that in the same group before treatment (all P < 0.01). Comparison between two groups after treatment, HAMD score and HAMA sore in group A after treatment for 4 weeks were significantly lower than that in group B (both P < 0.05); only the HAMA sore in group A after treatment for 8 weeks was lower than that in group B (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in HAMD score in the two groups (P > 0.05); after treatment for 8 weeks, FMA score in group A was obviously higher than that in group B (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in BI score in the two groups (P > 0.05). ConclusionThe curative effect of acupuncture manipulation of regulating governor vessel and unblocking brain on the anxiety state and motor function of the patients with post stroke depression is superior to that of escitalopram. With regard to the improvement of depression, this acupuncture manipulation was provided with the characteristic of rapid onset, and its long-term efficacy is equivalent to that of escitalopram. In terms of the improvement of activities of daily living, the curative effect of the two methods is equally well.