Therapeutic observation of cranial suture acupuncture in treating depression

Abstract

Objective

To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of cranial suture acupuncture plus paroxetine in treating depression, and to discuss the action mechanism of this acupuncture method.

Methods

One hundred depression patients were allocated to an observation group and a control group according to the random number table, with 50 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by oral administration of paroxetine tablets, 20 mg each time, once a day for successive 6 weeks; the observation group was additionally given cranial suture acupuncture, once a day for 6 weeks. They were scored by Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17) before the treatment and respectively after 1-week, 2-week, 4-week and 6-week treatment. The clinical efficacy and safety were also observed.

Results

After 6-week treatment, the total effective rate was 94.0% in the observation group versus 78.0% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The HAMD-17 scores respectively after 1-week, 2-week, 4-week and 6-week treatment were significantly lower than the score before the treatment in the observation group (all P<0.05); the HAMD-17 scores respectively after 2-week, 4-week and 6-week treatment were significantly different from the score before the treatment in the control group (all P<0.05). There were significant differences in the HAMD-17 score between the two groups respectively after 4-week and 6-week treatment (both P<0.05).

Conclusion

Cranial suture acupuncture plus paroxetine can ease the symptoms of depression, with faster onset and more significant therapeutic efficacy compared with paroxetine alone.

摘要

目的

观察颅骨缝针刺法联合帕罗西汀治疗抑郁症的临床疗效及安全性, 探讨颅骨缝针刺法的治疗机制。

方法

将100名抑郁症患者根据随机数字表法分成观察组和对照组, 每组50例。对照组口服帕罗西汀片, 每次20 mg, 每日1次, 连续服用6周; 观察组在对照组用药基础上加用颅骨缝针刺法, 每日治疗1次, 共治疗6周。分别于治疗前及治疗1、2、4和6周后进行17项汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD-17)评分, 并观察临床疗效及安全性。

结果

治疗6周后, 观察组临床总有效率为94.0%, 对照组为78.0%, 两组总有效率差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01)。观察组治疗1、2、4和6周后的HAMD-17评分均低于治疗前, 差异均具有统计学意义(均P<0.05); 对照组治疗2、4和6周后的HAMD-17评分与治疗前差异均具用统计学意义(均P<0.05)。观察组治疗4周和6周后的HAMD-17评分与同时间点对照组评分差异均具有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。

结论

颅骨缝针刺法联合帕罗西汀治疗抑郁症可减轻患者症状,起效快, 其疗效优于帕罗西汀单独用药。