Clinical observation on the treatment of 42 cases of post-stroke depression by acupuncture plus Chinese herbs

Purpose: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus Chinese herbs in treatment of poststroke depression. Methods: Forty-two cases of poststroke depression were treated by acupuncture plus Chinese herbs, and 30 cases of poststroke depression were treated by Western drug as control. Results: After 6 weeks of treatment, the scores of Hamilton Depressive Scale in two groups were all reduced statistically and remarkably when compared with before treatment; when the acupuncture plus Chinese herbs group were compared with Western drugs group, no significant difference was found in total effective rate. Conclusion: Acupuncture plus Chinese herbs had marked therapeutic effect in the treatment of poststroke depression, and had the advantages of safety and no side effect.