Liver And Spleen And Treatment Of Clinical Depression

Depression is one of the mood disorders characterized by marked and lasting depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, diminished ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness. Nowadays,its incidence rate,disablement rate and recurrence rate are on rising.It harm human,s spirit and body health seriously. WHO had been pointed out that mental diease is the main diease faced by human and depression is one of the focal points. Chinese and foreign scholars are paying attention to investigating depression. The application of western medicine is greatly limited due to slow action, long course of treatment, severe side effect and price, inefficacy to part patients. Since traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) aims to regulate the human body as a whole according to determination of treatment based on pathogensis obtained through differentiation of symptoms and signs, it has the advantage of flexibility and safety. Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture may become a new method in treating depression with TCM being recognized by people step by step. Therefore, there is practical importance to summarizing and exploring etiopathogenisis, therapeutical principles and methods, syndrome rule of depression from TCM angle.This research based on systemic literature of depression, combined with features of depression pathogensis and tutor's clinical experience, the stagnancy of the liver qi with diminished function of the spleen syndrome which is the one of the common syndromes of depression had been investigated with random, controlled, blindness method in mild or medium depression patients. HAMD scale and syndrome standard which was studied by syndrome research and demonstrated by experts were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect. It aimed to verify the method of soothing the liver and invigorating the function of the spleen in treating depression,to deepen understanding of etiopathogenisis,therapeutical principles and methods of depression from TCM angle.so as to verify the accuration of depression,s syndrome standard and the therapeutic effect of TCM in treating depression by way of determination of treatment based on pathogensis obtained through differentiation of symptoms and signs,explore the developing pattern of depression syndrome.The main content of clinical study: 60 cases in mild or medium depression patients were divided into treatment and control group according to the principle of random, control and blindness, and the diagnostic criteria of depression and the stagnancy of the liver qi with diminished function of the spleen syndrome. 30 cases in treatment group were cured by Xiaoyao Granula. Another 30 cases in control group were cured by Fluoxetine.course of treatment was 6 weeks.Result:â‘ Curative effect were assessed by TCM criteria.10 cases exhibited clinical remission(33.33%),14 cases exhibited greater effects (46.67%),3 casesexhibited effects(10%),3 case exhibited no effect(10%) in treatment group. The total effective rate was 90%;1 case exhibited clinical remission (3.33%),14 cases exhibited greater effects(46.67%),6 cases exhibited effects (20%),9 cases exhibited no effect(30%) in control group. The total effective rate was 70%.There was significant difference between two groups in the total effective rate (P<0.01).â‘¡Curative effect were assessed by the HAMD(Hamilton depression rating scale). 5 cases exhibited clinical remission(16.67%),13 cases exhibited greater effects (43.33%),7 cases exhibited effects (23.33%),5 cases exhibited no effect (16.67%) in treatment group. The total effective rate was 83.33%; 3 cases exhibited clinical remission (10%),11 cases had greater effects (36.67%), 8 cases had effects (26.67%), 8 cases had no effect(26.67%) in control group.The total effective rate was 73.33%.There was no difference between two groups in the total effective rate(P>0.05).â‘¢The symptoms of anorexia, abdominal distension,inability to sleep,sweetness and bitterness in the mouth and dream had been obviously improved in treatment group than that in control group(P<0.01 or <0.05).â‘£There had no side effect of the patients who were treated by Xiaoyao Granula.Conclusion:â‘ the total effective rate of Xiaoyao Granula in reducing rate of HAMD score is slight higher than that of fluoxetine at 2,4,6 weeks.The therapeutic effectivity get more and more obvious with the extention of the time of therapy.But there has no statistic differentiation because of little samples.â‘¡the total effective rate of Xiaoyao Granula in reducing rate of syndrome score of the stagnancy of the liver qi with diminished function of the spleen is obviously higher than that of fluoxetine at 2,4,6 weeks. The therapeutic effectivity get more and more obvious with the extention of the time of therapy.â‘¢the therapeutic effectivity of Xiaoyao Granula in treating characteristic symptoms of diminished function of the spleen such as anorexia, abdominal distension is better than that of fluoxetine. It also has obviously therapeutic effectivity in improving insomnia and bitterness in the mouth and dream.â‘£the result of clinical study shows that the method of soothing the liver and invigorating the function of the spleen is well effective in treating depression with no obvious side effect.It confirmes that the TCM has some certain benefits in treating depression.