Objective To compare the clinical efficacy between Tiaoshen Jieyu acupuncture（acupuncture for regulating mind and relieving depression） combined with sertraline hydrochloride tablet and simple sertraline hydrochloride tablet for post-stroke depression（PSD）. Methods A total of 76 patients with PSD were randomized into an observation group（38 cases

6 cases dropped off） and a control group（38 cases

4 cases dropped off）. Both groups were treated with conventional treatment i.e. controlling blood pressure and anti-inflammation. Sertraline hydrochloride tablet was given orally in the control group

20 mg a time

once a day. On the basis of the treatment in the control group

Tiaoshen Jieyu acupuncture was applied at Baihui（GV 20）

Yintang（GV 24+）

Neiguan（PC 6）

Taichong（LR 3）

etc. in the observation group

Baihui（GV 20） and Yintang（GV 24+） were connected to electroacupuncture

with disperse-dense wave

2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency

30 min a time

once a day

6 times a week. Treatment of 8 weeks was required in both groups. Before and after treatment

the scores of Hamilton depression scale（HAMD）

National Institutes of Health stroke scale（NIHSS）

Barthel index（BI） and Pittsburgh sleep quality index（PSQI） were observed respectively

the therapeutic efficacy and rate of adverse reactions were evaluated in the two groups. Results After treatment

the scores of HAMD

NIHSS and PSQI were lower while BI scores were higher than those before treatment in both groups（P<0.05）; the scores of HAMD

NIHSS and PSQI in the observation group were lower while BI score was higher than those in the control group（P<0.05）. The total effective rate was 93.8%（30/32） in the observation group

which was higher than 70.6%（24/34） in the control group（P<0.05）. The rate of adverse reactions was 9.4%（3/32） in the observation group

which was lower than 32.4%（11/34） in the control group（P<0.05）.Conclusion Tiaoshen Jieyu acupuncture combined with sertraline hydrochloride tablet can improve the depression degree

neurological function

activity of daily living and sleep quality in patients with post-stroke depression

the clinical efficacy is superior to simple sertraline hydrochloride

and can alleviate the adverse reactions caused by medication.