This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of abdominal acupuncture combined with routine stroke treatment and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on patients with post-stroke depression. The study included 126 participants who were randomly assigned to either receive the acupuncture treatment or to receive standard care with tDCS alone. After four weeks, the group receiving acupuncture showed greater improvements in depression symptoms, daily living activities, and sleep quality compared to the control group.
The researchers also measured changes in various blood markers related to brain function and inflammation. Both groups saw improvements from baseline, but the acupuncture group consistently showed better outcomes across these measures. The overall rate of effective treatment was higher in the group receiving acupuncture, with 91.1% of patients responding positively compared to 73.3% in the control group.
No adverse events or safety concerns were reported during the study, and no patients had to stop treatment due to side effects. However, the study was small and followed patients for a short period. Readers should understand that while the results look promising, more extensive research is needed to determine if this approach is truly effective for a wider range of patients over the long term.