Thirty cases of obsession treated by point-stimulation and with small dose of chlorimipramine.

Author(s): Feng B, Liu L, Fangzhong X, Chen J, Wang P, Chen W, Yu E

Affiliation(s): Zhejiang Provincial Tongde Hospital, Hangzhou 310012, China.

Publication date & source: 2007-03, J Tradit Chin Med., 27(1):3-6.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical therapeutic effects of point-stimulation for obsession. METHODS: Sixty cases of obsession were divided into two groups: a control group of 30 cases treated with chlorimipramine (Chl), and a treatment group of 30 cases treated by point-stimulation (PS) plus chlorimipramine (PS+Chl). The therapeutic effects and side-effect were evaluated according tb the criteria set in Yale-Brown Obsession Scale (Y-BOCS), Hamilton's depression scale (HAMD), brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and treatment emergent symptom scale (TESS). RESULTS: The cure rate and markedly effective rate were respectively 26.7% and 56.6% in the control group, and 43.3% and 50% in the treatment group, suggesting that the therapeutic effect in the treatment group was better than that in the control group. The incidence of adverse side-effects was 73.33% in the control group and 46.67% in the treatment group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Point-stimulation plus small dose of chlorimipramine was superior to the simple chlorimipramine treatment, indicating that the combined method was more effective and safe for obsession with less side effects.