Effect of scalp electro-acupuncture on post-stroke depression / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: It is thought in traditional Chinese medicine that "the head is the residence of intelligence", "the head is the leader of body, and the focus of the spirit". Therefore, scalp electro-acupuncture can induce resuscitation, relieve mental confusion, dredge the meridian and eliminate the depression in treatment of post-stroke depression.OBJECTIVE: To observe the curative effect of head acupuncture on poststroke depression.DESIGN: Randomized controlled and single blind evaluationSETTING: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University; College of Acupuncture and Massage,Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 90 patients with post-stroke depression were from Affiliated Nanfang Hospital and,Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were recruited. The Score of all the patients in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) were ＞ 20. Ninety patients were randomly divided as scalp acupuncture group (n=46) and routine acupuncture group (n=44).METHODS: The patients in the routine acupuncture group were treated mainly at points of three-yang meridians of foot and hand at the hemiplegia side. The points include jianyu (LI-15) , binao (LI-14) , quchi (LI-11),shousanli (LI-10), waiguan (SJ-5), hegu (LI-4), biguan (St-31), liangqiu (St-34), zusanli (St-36), yanglingquan (GB-34), kunlun (UB-60), jiexi (St41). The above points were divided into 2 groups, 1 group each day, alternately. Even reinforcing-reducing method was used, with 30-minute needle retention, 6 successive days treatment with 1 day rest, for 6 weeks totally.The patients in the scalp acupuncture were treated with, besides the above method, scalp acupuncture. Mid-parietal line, mid-frontal line, laterofrontal lineI (both sides)were chosen. After arrival of qi, G6805 type electro-acupuncture apparatus (interrupted wave, 50 Hz,4 V) was connected, with 30-minute needle retention, 6 suocessive days treatment with 1 day rest, 6 for 6 weeks totally. HRSD was used to evaluate the status of depression before and after treatment. Stroke score was used to evaluate the curative effect of stroke.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HRSD scores and curative effect of apoplexy before and after treatment of the patients in two groups.RESULTS: According to the intention treatment, all 90 patients entered the result analysis. ① HRSD score after treatment was lower than that be fore treatment in the scalp acupuncture group,and that after treatment group in the routine acupuncture group (8.55±1.73,30.61±4.02,15.04±2.33,P ＜ 0.01 ). ②There was no significant difference of the total effective rate in the two groups , but some tendency indicated the effective rate in the scalp acupuncture group was better than that in the routine acupuncture group ( 100% ,98% ,x2=1.9167 ,P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Scalp electro-acupuncture has obvious curative effect on post-stroke depression. The amelioration of melancholia has a certain promoting effect on rehabilitation of apoplexy.