Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of scalp⁃point cluster needling combined with Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder for patients with post⁃stroke depression (PSD) in stagnated qi turning to fire type. Methods A total of 117 patients with PSD in stagnated qi turning to fire type were selected as the research subjects, and they were randomly divided into Traditional Chinese Medicine group (40 cases), needling group (38 cases) or combination group (39 cases). Patients in the Traditional Chinese Medicine group were treated with oral Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder, the needling group received scalp⁃point cluster needling for treatment, and the combination group accepted scalp⁃point cluster needling combined with oral Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder for treatment. All patients were treated for 4 weeks. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Barthel index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, as well as serum 5⁃hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, brain⁃derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) levels were compared between the three groups before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. Results (1) After 4 weeks of treatment, the HAMD score, NIHSS score and PSQI score of the three groups were lower than those before treatment, and the Barthel index score was higher than that before treatment (P<0.05). The HAMD score and NIHSS score of the combination group were lower than those of the Traditional Chinese Medicine group and the needling group. The Barthel index score from high to low was the combination group, the needling group, and the Traditional Chinese Medicine group, and the PSQI score from high to low was the Traditional Chinese Medicine group, the needling group, and the combination group (P<0.05). (2) After 4 weeks of treatment, the levels of serum BDNF, NGF, 5⁃hydroxytryptamine and dopamine were higher than those before treatment in the three groups (P<0.05), and the aforementioned indices levels in the combination group were higher than those in the Traditional Chinese Medicine group and the needling group (P<0.05). Conclusions The combined treatment of scalp⁃point cluster needling and Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder can significantly improve the depression state, sleep quality and neurological function defect in patients with PSD in stagnated qi turning to fire type, improve the levels of serum neurotrophic factors, neurotransmitters, 5⁃hydroxytryptamine and dopamine, and improve the ability of daily living. The therapeutic effect is superior to Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder or scalp⁃point cluster needling therapy alone.

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