Depression ; epidemiology ; etiology ; therapy ; Global Health ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; epidemiology ; etiology ; therapy ; Mental Health

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of thumb-tack needles based on "Biaoben acupoint compatibility" on sequela symptoms, mental state and pulmonary ventilation function in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during recovery period. METHODS: Fifty cases of COVID-19 during recovery period were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 25 cases in each group. The patients in the observation group were treated with thumb-tack needles at Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36) and Taiyuan (LU 9). The patients in the control group were treated with sham thumb-tack needles at identical acupoints as the observation group. The treatment in the two groups was given once a day, 7-day treatment was taken as a course of treatment, and totally two courses of treatment were given. The TCM symptom score, Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) score, Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) score, pulmonary function (forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1], peak expiratory flow [PEF]), the severity of pulmonary ventilation dysfunction and pulmonary imaging changes in the two groups were compared before and after treatment. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the total scores and each item scores of TCM symptom scale, HAMA scores and HAMD scores in the two groups were reduced after treatment (P<0.05). Except for the symptom scores of dry throat and dry stool, the total score and each item score of TCM symptom scale, HAMA score and HAMD score in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, FVC, FEV1 and PEF in the two groups were increased after treatment (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were higher than the control group (P<0.05). The severity of pulmonary ventilation dysfunction in the two groups was reduced after treatment (P<0.05), and the severity in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the lung shadow area in the two groups was decreased (P<0.05), and that in the observation group was smaller than the control group (P<0.05). The improvement of imaging change in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The thumb-tack needles based on "Biaoben acupoint compatibility" could significantly reduce the sequela symptoms, anxiety and depression in patients with COVID-19 during recovery stage, and improve the pulmonary ventilation function.
Acupuncture Points ; Anxiety/etiology* ; COVID-19/therapy* ; Depression/etiology* ; Humans ; Needles ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Thumb

Insomnia is a common disease in modern society; it is made worse by increasingly fierce competition in the workplace and elsewhere, along with rapid economic and social development. Sleep disorders can result in changes in serum biomarkers and decreased immunity, and may cause maladies such as depression and cardiac diseases, as well as many other somatic symptoms. Western medications for treating insomnia can easily lead to addiction and other adverse effects. Fortunately, acupuncture can ease the symptoms of insomnia. This review summarizes the hazards associated with insomnia and the use of acupuncture in its treatment. Furthermore, the authors introduce an effective and low-cost method of treating insomnia with acupuncture. This review indicates that insomnia poses a major threat to mental health through its effects on serum components, heart function and the immune system of patients, which may lead to other physiological disorders. Anxiety and depression are the two main negative emotions affected by insomnia. Acupuncture, which has showed effectiveness against insomnia and its complications, may be an effective and complementary method for the treatment of insomnia and associated maladies.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Anxiety ; etiology ; therapy ; Depression ; etiology ; therapy ; Heart Diseases ; etiology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; complications ; psychology ; therapy

Adult ; Anxiety ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Depression ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; psychology ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Male ; Psychotherapy

OBJECTIVETo explore clinical therapeutic effects of Governor Vessel Daoqi needling method combined with antidepressants on dyssomnia in the patient of depression.

METHODSdepression with dyssomnia were randomly divided into a treatment group (n=23) and a control group (n=22). The treatment group were treated with Governor Vessel Daoqi needling method and oral administration of antidepressants, with Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Shendao (GV 11) and Zhiyang (GV 9) selected as main acupoints; and the control group with simple antidepressants. They were treated for 4 weeks. Changes of scores for Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were investigated in the two groups.

RESULTSSignificant differences before and after treatment in the scores for HAMD (P < 0.01) in both the two groups, and a significant difference before and after treatment in the score for PSQI only in the treatment group (P < 0.01) were found; after treatment, there were significant differences between the two groups in the scores of HAMD and PSQI (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of Governor Vessel Daoqi needling method and antidepressants can significantly improve dyssomnia in the patient of depression.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Depression ; therapy ; Dyssomnias ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of auricular magnetotherapy on depression and quality of life in stroke patients with depression after recovery. METHODS: Ninety-three stroke patients with depression were randomly divided into a conventional group(a control group), a conventional combined with magnetotherapy group (an observation 1 group), a conventional combined with vaccaria seed group (an observation 2 group), 31 cases in each group. Conventional treatments were applied in the three groups. On the basis of conventional treatments, auricular magnetotherapy was added in the observation 1 group, and in the observation 2 group, vaccaria seed was applied at gan (CO), xin (CO), pi (CO), shen (CO), shenmen (TF), pizhixia (AT), press 3 times a day, replace once every 3 days, alternate ears and treating for 4 weeks. The scores of 17 Hamilton Depression Scales (HAMD-17) and stroke-specific quality of life scales (SS-QOL) were observed before and after treatment in each group. Depression was assessed at follow-up 4 weeks after treatment, and the clinical efficacy of each group was compared. RESULTS: A total of 83 cases completed the test. After treatment and follow-up, the scores of HAMD decreased in the observation 1 group and observation 2 group compared with that before treatment (all <0.01). The total score of HAMD in the observation 1 group was lower than that in the observation 2 group and control group (all <0.01). After treatment, the depression, suicide, initial insomnia, middle insomnia, final insomnia, work and interest dimension scores in the observation 1 group were lower than those in the observation 2 group and control group (<0.05, <0.01). Compared with that before treatment, the total score of SS-QOL in the observation 1 group increased (<0.01), and there was no significant difference in total score of SS-QOL before and after treatment in the observation 2 group and control group (both >0.05). After treatment, the total score of SS-QOL in the observation 1 group and observation 2 group were higher than that in the control group (<0.01, <0.05), there was no significant difference between the two groups (>0.05). The scores of energy, family characters, and emotional dimensions in the observation 1 group were higher than those in the observation 2 group and control group (<0.05, <0.01). The score of personality and upper limb function were higher than those in the control group (<0.05, <0.01); the score of the family role dimension of the observation 2 group was significantly higher than that in the control group (<0.01). The total effective rate in the observation 1 group was 72.4% (21/29), which was higher than 44.4% (12/27) in the observation 2 group (<0.05) and 11.1% (3/27) in the control group (<0.01). CONCLUSION Auricular magnetotherapy can improve the depressive symptoms of convalescent stroke patients with depression and improve their quality of life.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Depression ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Magnetics ; Quality of Life ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic efficacy of governor vessel moxibustion combined with fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule, simple fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule and placebo moxibustion combined with fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule for mild to moderate depression with kidney-yang deficiency. METHODS: A total of 126 patients with mild to moderate depression with kidney-yang deficiency were randomized into a governor vessel moxibustion group (42 cases, 2 cases dropped off), a western medication group (42 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a placebo moxibustion group (42 cases, 1 case dropped off). The western medication group was given fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule orally, 20 mg a time, once a day. On the basis of the treatment in the western medication group, governor vessel moxibustion was applied from Dazhui (GV 14) to Yaoshu (GV 2) in the governor vessel moxibustion group, once a week; placebo moxibustion was applied in the placebo moxibustion group, once a week. Treatment of 8 weeks was required in the 3 groups. Before and after treatment, the scores of Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17), Asberg's rating scale for side effects (SERS) and TCM clinical symptom were compared, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of HAMD-17, SERS and TCM clinical symptom were decreased compared before treatment in the 3 groups (P<0.05), the decrease ranges of above scores in the governor vessel moxibustion group were larger than those in the western medication group and the placebo moxibustion group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 92.5% (37/40) in the governor vessel moxibustion group, which was higher than 75.6% (31/41) in the western medication group and 80.5% (33/41) in the placebo moxibustion group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Governor vessel moxibustion combined with fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule can improve the degree of depression and relieve the clinical symptoms in mild to moderate depression patients with kidney-yang deficiency, the efficacy is superior to simple fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule, and can reduce the fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule-induced adverse effect to a certain extent.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Yang Deficiency/drug therapy* ; Depression/etiology* ; Fluoxetine ; Acupuncture Points ; Kidney

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy between Tiaoshen Jieyu acupuncture (acupuncture for regulating mind and relieving depression) combined with sertraline hydrochloride tablet and simple sertraline hydrochloride tablet for post-stroke depression (PSD). METHODS: A total of 76 patients with PSD were randomized into an observation group (38 cases, 6 cases dropped off) and a control group (38 cases, 4 cases dropped off). Both groups were treated with conventional treatment i.e. controlling blood pressure and anti-inflammation. Sertraline hydrochloride tablet was given orally in the control group, 20 mg a time, once a day. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, Tiaoshen Jieyu acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 24⁺), Neiguan (PC 6), Taichong (LR 3), etc. in the observation group, Baihui (GV 20) and Yintang (GV 24⁺) were connected to electroacupuncture, with disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency, 30 min a time, once a day, 6 times a week. Treatment of 8 weeks was required in both groups. Before and after treatment, the scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), Barthel index (BI) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were observed respectively, the therapeutic efficacy and rate of adverse reactions were evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of HAMD, NIHSS and PSQI were lower while BI scores were higher than those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05); the scores of HAMD, NIHSS and PSQI in the observation group were lower while BI score was higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.8% (30/32) in the observation group, which was higher than 70.6% (24/34) in the control group (P<0.05). The rate of adverse reactions was 9.4% (3/32) in the observation group, which was lower than 32.4% (11/34) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Tiaoshen Jieyu acupuncture combined with sertraline hydrochloride tablet can improve the depression degree, neurological function, activity of daily living and sleep quality in patients with post-stroke depression, the clinical efficacy is superior to simple sertraline hydrochloride, and can alleviate the adverse reactions caused by medication.
Humans ; Sertraline/adverse effects* ; Depression/etiology* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Stroke/complications* ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Tablets

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference in treatment of depression in breast cancer between the combined therapy of acupuncture and auricular acupressure and western medication.

METHODSSixty patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the observation group, the combined therapy of acupuncture and auricular acupressure was adopted. The main acupoints of acupuncture were Hegu (LI 4), Tai-chong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Qihai (CV 6), etc. The supplementary acupoints were combined according to the syndrome differentiation. The treatment was given once every day, 5 treatments a week, at the interval of 2 days among weeks. The auricular acupressure was applied to gan (CO12, liver), pi (CO13, spleen), neifenmi (CO18, endocrine), etc., once every 4 days, on each side in one treatment. In the control group, fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules were prescribed for oral administration, 20 mg, once a day. The Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) was used to assess the disease severity and efficacy before treatment, in 4 and 8 weeks of treatment separately. HAMD factor changes were observed before treatment and at the end of the 8th week. The Asberg antidepressants scale (SERS) was applied to safety assessment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) in the observation group, better than 63.3% (19/30) in the control group (P<0.05). At the end of the 4th and 8th weeks, HAMD scores were all reduced apparently in the two groups (all P<0.01). At the end of the 8th week, the scores of the HAMD factor 1 (anxiety/somatic system), factor 5 (retardation) and factor 6 (sleep disturbance) were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.01); the results in the observation group were better than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). SERS score in the observation group was lower obviously than that in the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of acupuncture and auricular acupressure achieves the antidepression effect in treatment of depression in breast cancer and has less side effects and high safety. The efficacy is superior to fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules.

Acupressure ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; Depression ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD) by regulating the liver and strengthening the root prescription.

METHODSIn light of the random controlled trial principle, 123 cases were randomized into an acupuncture-moxibustion group (42 cases), a medication group (40 cases) and an acupuncture + medication group (41 cases). In the acupuncture-moxibustion group, the therapy of regulating the liver and strengthening the root was applied. Acupuncture was given at Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20, Yintang (GV 29), etc. The granule moxibustion was applied at Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Qihai (CV 6). The treatment was given once a day and stopped in weekend. In the medication group, paroxetine hydrochloride tablets were prescribed for oral administration, 20 mg each day after breakfast. In the acupuncture + medication group, the therapies were adopted as the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the medication group. In the 2nd and 4th week of treatment, HAMD was used as the primary index and Barthel index as the secondary one for the efficacy assessment in the three groups respectively. The spleen and stomach syndrome scale of TCM was used for the assessment of TCM syndrome efficacy. Treatment emergent symptom scale (TESS) was applied for the safety assessment.

RESULTSIn the 4th week of treatment, the markedly effective rates were 69.0% (29/42), 65.0% (26/40) and 70.7% (29/41) in the acupuncture-moxibustion group, the medication group and the acupuncture + medication group respectively. The efficacies of anti-depression were similar in comparison among groups (P > 0.05). In the 2nd week of treatment, the improvement of HAMD score was significant in the acupuncture + medication group as compared with that before treatment and in comparison with the medication group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). As for improving Barthel index, reducing the spleen and stomach symptom score of TCM and decreasing the score of TESS, the results in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the acupuncture + medication group were superior to those in the medication group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion with regulating the liver and strengthening the root achieves the definite efficacy of anti-depression and presents the quite high safety in treatment.

Acupuncture Therapy ; adverse effects ; Aged ; Depression ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; adverse effects ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome