[Effect of early acupuncture intervention on post-stroke depression: a randomized controlled trial]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Integrative Medicine
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common complication affecting patient recovery.
• Conventional drug therapy has limitations in managing PSD and neurological deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture combined with conventional drug therapy for PSD.
• To assess the impact on neurological function recovery in acute stroke patients.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 60 acute stroke patients.
• The observation group received acupuncture plus conventional drugs; the control group received conventional drugs alone.
• Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and modified Edinburgh-Scandinavian Stroke Scale (MESSS) were used for assessment over 4 weeks.

Main Results:

• Acupuncture group showed significant reduction in HAMD scores and improvement in MESSS scores compared to the control group.
• The morbidity of post-stroke depression was significantly lower in the acupuncture group (23.3%) versus the control group (66.7%).
• Early acupuncture intervention promoted neurological function recovery and reduced PSD incidence.

Conclusions:

• Combining acupuncture with conventional therapy is an effective strategy for managing post-stroke depression.
• Early acupuncture intervention aids in promoting neurological function recovery and reducing PSD morbidity.
• This integrated approach offers a promising treatment option for acute stroke patients.