title: Traditional Chinese Acupuncture for Poststroke Depression: A Single-Blind Double-Simulated Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness and possible side-effect of treating poststroke depression patients by traditional Chinese body acupuncture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-blind double-simulated randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient wards of neurology and rehabilitation departments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight (68) participants who met the criteria were randomly assigned into two groups, 34 cases (32 completed) into intervention group and 34 cases (33 completed) into control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body acupuncture (Shuigou GV 26, Neiguan PC 6, and Zusanli ST 36) and oral placebo were used in intervention group while fluoxetine and minimal nontraditional acupuncture (minimally active penetrating) were used in control group. Patients in both groups were treated separately once a day for 6 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcomes were measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), and side-effects were measured using the Side Effect Rating Scale (SERS) of Asberg and a self-designed needling adverse events scale. Clinical effects of both groups were statistically valued before treatment, week-2, week-6, and month-3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total curative effects of both groups are similar (p > 0.05; evaluated in week-6 and month-3), while intervention group had an earlier onset time at week-2 (p < 0.05). The intervention group has fewer side-effects in week-2 (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Body acupuncture was effective in reducing stroke patients' depressive symptoms and had fewer side-effects. It should be considered as an option for neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke.
authors.affiliation: 1 Changhai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Military Medical University , Shanghai, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Xiaolu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: 1 Changhai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Military Medical University , Shanghai, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: 1 Changhai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Military Medical University , Shanghai, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Yanli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: 1 Changhai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Military Medical University , Shanghai, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.affiliation: 1 Changhai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Military Medical University , Shanghai, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Fanfu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Neurology, Changhai Hospital , Shanghai, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Shiren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: 1 Changhai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Military Medical University , Shanghai, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine