Abstract: Objective To observe effects of the electroacupuncture combined with music therapy on cerebral neurometabolites measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with post-stroke depression.Methods From January, 2013 to December, 2017, 60 patients with post-stroke depression were randomly divided into drug group (n=30) and electroacupuncture music group (n=30). Another 20 cases of normal control group were recruited. The concentration of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) in the bilateral prefrontal white matter was measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy before and after eight-week treatment in three groups. The clinical efficiency was defined as the different of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale before and after treatment.Results There was no significant difference in the effective rate between two treatment groups (Z=-0.145, P>0.05). Before treatment, the Cho/Cr was lower in the electroacupuncture music group and the drug group than in the normal control group (t>3.093, P<0.05). After treatment, the Cho/Cr increased in both treatment groups (t>2.219, P<0.05), and no significant difference was found between them (P>0.05).Conclusion The choline level may be the neurobiochemical basis for glial cell or myelin sheath function and integrity in white matter of patients with post- stroke depression. The regulation of glial cell and myelin function in prefrontal white matter may be one of the action targets of electroacupuncture combined with music therapy.

Key words: post-stroke depression, electroacupuncture, music therapy, magnetic resonance spectroscopy