Back to Search Start Over

Effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in post-stroke depression and anxiety disorders: a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind study.

Authors :
Kalaoğlu E
Kesiktaş FN
Bucak ÖF
Atasoy M
Günderci A
Source :
Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society [Acupunct Med] 2024 Dec; Vol. 42 (6), pp. 319-325. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Nov 26.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture in post-stroke depression/anxiety disorders and to determine whether it reduces the need for anxiolytic and sedative drug use.<br />Methods: This study included 54 stroke patients with depression and/or anxiety disorder. Patients were randomly assigned to the acupuncture treatment group (n = 27) or the control group (n = 27). A conventional rehabilitation program was applied to all patients and acupuncture was performed twice a week for 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated blindly by a psychiatrist at baseline (week 0), week 4 and week 8, using the Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A), and drug doses were adjusted when necessary. The HAM-D and HAM-A scores at week 4 were pre-specified as the two primary outcome measures.<br />Results: Within each group, there was a significant decrease in the mean scores of HAM-D and HAM-A at weeks 4 and 8. No between-group differences in HAM-A or HAM-D scores were seen at 4 weeks but there was a significant decrease in HAM-D scores in favor of the acupuncture group at week 8 (p < 0.025). At week 4, the number of cases whose selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) dose was increased was found to be significantly higher in the control group.<br />Conclusion: While the study was negative with respect to its primary outcomes, the findings with respect to certain secondary outcomes suggests further research is warranted to determine if acupuncture treatment is an effective/safe treatment to alleviate post-stroke depression/anxiety.<br />Trial Registration Number: NCT04283591 (ClinicalTrials.gov).<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1759-9873
Volume :
42
Issue :
6
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
39587915
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284241298294