Clinical research of acupuncture on malignant tumor patients for improving depression and sleep quality

To study the effect of acupuncture on depression and insomnia of malignant tumor patients.

Eighty cases of cancer related depression and sleep disorders were randomly divided into 2 groups: treatment 1 group (acupuncture n = 40) and control group (Fluoxetione n = 40). All patients were assessed by Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Hemilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) after treatment for 30 days.

Before treatment the SDS and HAMD scores of the trial group were 64.12 +/- 5.34 and 20.92 +/- 2.38, those of the control group were 64.24 +/- 4.98 and 20.72 +/- 2.74, after treatment the SDS and HAMD scores of the trial group were 43.64 +/- 5.28 and 9.88 +/- 1.27 respectively, significantly lower than those of the control group (50.76 +/- 5.42 and 13.72 +/- 2.05 respectively, both P < 0.05). Before treatment the PSQI score of the trial group and the control group were 14.48 +/- 1.71 and 13.92 +/- 2.59, after treatment the PSQI score of the trial group was 7.92 +/- 1.22 after treatment, significantly lower than those of the control group (11.44 +/- 1.89, P < 0.01).

Acupuncture can effectively reduce malignant-related depression, improve sleep quality, and help to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.