Wrist-ankle acupuncture and Fluoxetine in the treatment of post-stroke depression: a randomized controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of WAA combined with fluoxetine in the clinical treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD). METHODS: In this randomized, controlled and single-blind trial, 105 PSD patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into three equal groups: Thin wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) group (Thin WAA needle + Fluoxetine), Thick WAA group (Thick WAA needle + Fluoxetine), and Sham WAA group (sham WAA needle + Fluoxetine). In this trial, the primary outcome was Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), while the secondary outcomes included Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) and World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (QQL). RESULTS: Ninety nine PSD patients completed all the treatment. The HAMD scores and SDS scores of all the three groups decreased after treatment (P < 0.05); thick WAA group and thin WAA group decreased more obviously than the sham WAA group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the QQL scores of the three groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the scores of the three scales between the thick wrist ankle needles and the thin wrist ankle needles (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study showed that WAA combined with fluoxetine can relieve the symptoms of depression after stroke. WAA therapy could improve the antidepressant effect of fluoxetine. (C) 2020 JTCM. All rights reserved.