Observation On The Clinical Efficacy Of Acupuncture At Baihui And Shenting Acupoints With Different Stimulation Amounts In Treating Depression Of The Liver Qi Stagnation Syndrome

Objective:The purpose of this study was to observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Baihui and Shenting acupoints with different stimulation amounts in treating depression of the liver qi stagnation syndrome.To explore the dose-effect relationship between acupuncture with different stimulation amounts and improvement of depressive symptoms of the patients and to further verify the importance of the acupuncture stimulation amount in clinical application,so as to provide clinical objective basis for improving the efficacy of acupuncture in treating depression and selecting the best acupuncture stimulation amount.Methods:In this study,60 patients of depression with liver qi stagnation syndrome who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into strong stimulation group and weak stimulation group by random number table method.There were 30 cases in each group.Acupuncture prescription: both groups had the same acupoint.The main points were "Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture method" with dialectical point selection.They were Baihui,Shenting,Yintang,Fengfu,Shenmen(bilateral),Neiguan(bilateral),Hegu(bilateral),Taichong(bilateral),Qimen(bilateral)and Ganshu(bilateral).The difference of stimulation amounts were as follows: in the strong stimulation group,the acupunctures of Baihui and Shenting acupoints were applied a quick and small twist manipulation with a twisting speed of 200 times per minute and a continuous twist of 3 minutes after the acupunctures were needled into the body.During the retention period of 30 minutes,the same manipulation was applied once every 15 minutes.The acupunctures were retained for 30 minutes before they were removed;in the weak stimulation group,the acupunctures of Baihui and Shenting acupoints were applied a quick and small twist manipulation with a twisting speed of 200 times per minute and a continuous twist of 1 minutes after the acupunctures were needled into thebody.During the retention period of 30 minutes,no manipulation was applied.The acupunctures were retained for 30 minutes before they were removed.All the other acupoints didn't use manipulation after obtaining qi.The acupuncture treatment was once a day which lasted for 6 days in the week continuously and then rest for 1 day.A course of treatment was 7 days in total which lasted for 4 weeks.To observe the changes of the scores of TCM Syndrome,Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD-24)and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)of the two groups before and after 4 weeks of treatment and recorde the adverse reactions and complications.The clinical efficacy was evaluated by the reduction rate of HAMD scores.Results:1.After 4 weeks of treatment,the scores of TCM Syndrome,Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD-24)and Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS)of the patients in the two groups patients had dropped markedly compared with those before treatment.The difference was statistically significant(P<0.01).2.After 4 weeks of treatment,the difference of TCM Syndrome scores before and after treatment was compared between the two groups,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01);the difference of Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD-24)scores before and after treatment was compared between the two groups,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);the difference of Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS)scores before and after treatment was compared between the two groups,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01).3.After 4 weeks of treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated.The total effective rate of the strong stimulation group was 86.67%.The total effective rate of the weak stimulation group was 76.67%.The statistical analysis showed that the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The strong stimulation group was superior to the weak stimulation group.Conclusion:1.Acupuncture at Baihui and Shenting acupoints with different stimulation amounts has good clinical efficacy in treating depression of the liver qi stagnation syndrome;2.Compared with the weak stimulation group,the strong stimulation group had better efficacy in improving depressive symptoms;3.Stimulation amount is an important factor affecting the therapeutic effect of acupuncture.