AIM: To observe the effects of abdominal acupuncture and electroacupuncture therapy on the stagnation of liver-qi and deficiency of spleen of gerontic depressive disorder after stroke by randomized and controlled study. METHODS: Sixty patients with stagnation of liver-qi and deficiency of spleen of gerontic depressive disorder after stroke were selected from Department of Neurology, the First Hospital affiliated to Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in March 2006, and randomly divided into abdominal acupuncture group (n = 10), electroacupuncture group (n = 20), and normal control group (n = 21). All the basic data of patients were comparable (p > 0.05). (1) At supine position, the patients in the abdominal acupuncture group were given acupuncture Zhongwan, Xiawan, Qihai, Guanyuan, both Huaroumen, wailing and Daheng for 30 minutes, once every other day for 21 times with 6 weeks as one course. (2) At supine position, the patients in the electroacupuncture group were given electroacupuncture at Baihui, Shenting, Yintang, Sishencong, Taichong, and Shenmen. The voltage of electroacupuncture apparatus was 6 V, and the output guideline was clamped to the needle with condensation and rarefaction waves; the rarefaction frequency was 4 Hz, and condensation frequency was 20 Hz. Positive pulse amplitude was 50 V, and negative pulse amplitude was 35 V. The treating time was the same to the previous course. (3) The normal group was not given any acupuncture therapy. (4) All the patients underwent basic treatment to control blood pressure, blood sugar and basic functional rehabilitation training of limbs. The depression level, curative effects index, and social disability improvement of all patients were evaluated before and 2, 4, 6 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: (1) Depression level before and after treatment: After 6 weeks treatment, the scores in the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale of each group were obviously lower than those before treatment, especially for the abdominal acupuncture group and electroacupuncture group (30.15 +/- 4.29, 50.37 +/- 6.32 points; 38.24 +/- 6.57, 48.48 +/- 5.91 points; both p < 0.01). (2) Changes in the scores of Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and curative effect level before and after treatment: After 6 weeks treatment, the scores in HAMD of each group were obvious lower than those before treatment, especially for the abdominal acupuncture group and electroacupuncture group (17.82 +/- 6.25, 33.26 +/- 6.21; 19.56 +/- 5.91, 32.94 +/- 4.83; both p < 0.01). The total effective percentage of abdominal acupuncture group was superior to that of the electroacupuncture group (73.68%, 65.0%, p < 0.05). (3) Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS) level before and after treatment: After six weeks treatment, the total scores in SDSS of each group were obviously lower than those before treatment, especially for the abdominal acupuncture group and electroacupuncture group (7.23 +/- 4.11, 11.38 +/- 3.49; 8.11 +/- 4.13, 10.76 +/- 4.12; both p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Both the abdominal acupuncture and electroacupuncture therapy could effectively treat the gerontic depressive disorder after stroke and promote emotional recovery. Moreover, the abdominal acupuncture therapy shows better curative effect in clinic and could improve the depressive symptoms significantly.

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