Acupuncture plus five-element music alleviates post-stroke depression

Acupuncture plus five-element music alleviates post-stroke depression

Acupuncture combined with five-element music (AFEM) can significantly alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). A study carried out in China included 237 patients with mild to moderate PSD who were randomly assigned to receive either AFEM (n=119) or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) (n=118), with outcomes measured over 12 weeks. Acupuncture treatment consisted of needling three points: Baihui DU-20, Shenting DU-24 and Yintang M-HN-3. After deqi was achieved, the needles were twirled for 30 seconds at a frequency of 200 times per minute using a reinforcing-reducing method. During the needle retention period, traditional Chinese five-element music was played to the patients. Five-element music includes five tones (Jue, Zhi, Gong, Shang and Yu) which correspond to the five yin organs (Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung and Kidney) and five emotions (anger, happiness, worry, sadness and fear). It is theorised to regulate the function of these organs by regulating qi and blood. Patients in both treatment groups received a 30 minute treatment, five times per week for four consecutive weeks. By week 12, both groups showed significant improvements in depression scores, but the AFEM group demonstrated a greater reduction. Stroke-specific quality of life scores had also improved significantly in the AFEM group by week 12, compared with CBT. The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was low (2.1%) in the AFEM group, with no serious adverse events reported. (Effects of acupuncture combined with five-element music for people with mild/moderate post-stroke depression: A randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 2024 Nov:86:103088).

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39332596/