Acupuncture is more effective than fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac) for the treatment of post-stroke depression. Hebei Medical University Affiliated Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine researchers investigated the effects of acupuncture on patients with post-stroke depression in a randomized controlled clinical trial. For comparison purposes, a control group received fluoxetine hydrochloride. The acupuncture treatment group achieved a total effective rate of 96%; the drug control group achieved an 87% total effective rate.
Acupuncture outperformed fluoxetine hydrochloride across four separate indices (HAMD, NIHSS, Barthel Index, TESS). The HAMD (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) measures several important aspects of mental health (e.g., mood, suicidal tendencies, insomnia, interest in work and activities, psychomotor impairment, agitation, anxiety). The NIHSS (NIH Stroke Scale) is a 15 item neurologic examination of stroke adverse effects. The Barthel Index (BI) measures the ability to live independently based on mobility and activities of daily living performance (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing, walking, bladder and bowel control). TESS (Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale) measures the safety and efficacy of treatment. At the 96% total effective rate, the acupuncture group outperformed the drug control group across all tested indices by 9%.
from Acupuncture and Herbs News and Research https://ift.tt/2sg53il
