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- Title
A pilot controlled trial of a combination of dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation and body acupuncture for post-stroke depression.
- Authors
Sui-Cheung Man; Hung, Ben H. B.; Ng, Roger M. K.; Xiao-Chun Yu; Hobby Cheung; Fung, Mandy P. M.; Li, Leonard S. W.; Kwok-Pui Leung; Kei-Pui Leung; Tsang, Kevin W. Y; Ziea, Eric; Wong, Vivian T.; Zhang-Jin Zhang
- Abstract
Background: Our previous studies have demonstrated the treatment benefits of dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS), a novel brain stimulation therapy in patients with major depression, postpartum depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The purpose of the present study was to further evaluate the effectiveness of DCEAS combined with body acupuncture and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). Methods: In a single-blind, randomized controlled trial, 43 patients with PSD were randomly assigned to 12 sessions of DCEAS plus SSRI plus body electroacupuncture (n = 23), or sham (non-invasive cranial electroacupuncture, n-CEA) plus SSRI plus body electroacupuncture (n = 20) for 3 sessions per week over 4 weeks. Treatment outcomes were measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), the Clinical Global Impression - Severity scale (CGI-S) and Barthel Index (BI), a measure used to evaluate movement ability associated with daily self-caring activity. Results: DCEAS produced a significantly greater reduction of both HAMD-17 and CGI-S as early as week 1 and CGI-S at endpoint compared to n-CEA, but subjects of n-CEA group exhibited a significantly greater improvement on BI at week 4 than DCEAS. Incidence of adverse events was not different in the two groups. Conclusions: These results indicate that DCEAS could be effective in reducing stroke patients ’ depressive symptoms. Superficial electrical stimulation in n-CEA group may be beneficial in improving movement disability of stroke patients. A combination of DCEAS and body acupuncture can be considered a treatment option for neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke.
- Publication
BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 2014, Vol 14, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1472-6882
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/1472-6882-14-255