Mechanisms and Research Progress of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Post-stroke Depression

Key Points

• The central aim is to review the mechanisms and advancements of acupuncture in treating post-stroke depression.
• Integrative review of recent research on acupuncture's effects on post-stroke depression.
• Analysis of multidimensional mechanisms including neurotransmitter regulation and neuroplasticity.
• Assessment of clinical efficacy through varied international studies.
• Acupuncture shows multi-target regulatory effects with low adverse reactions in treating post-stroke depression.
• Challenges include insufficient understanding of mechanisms and low-grade clinical evidence for effectiveness.
• Future efforts need to enhance international collaboration for a comprehensive management system.