Objective: To study the effect of Bushen Huoxue Herbs on depression of patients with Parkinson's disease.
Methods: Ninety-six patients were randomized into two groups with 46 patients in the treatment group and 50 patients in the control group. Both groups took western medicine as basic treatment. The treatment group was treated with Bushen Huoxue Herbs additionally. The observation was carried out for 9 months. Used Encephalofluctuograph Technology (ET) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) to measure the changes of cerebral neurotransmitters and scale scores in both groups at baseline time, 3, 6 and 9 months later to evaluate the effects of Bushen Huoxue Herbs.
Results: In the treatment group, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), noradrenaline (NE) and dopamine (DA) levels were increased significantly when compared with pretreatment (P < 0.05), especially of 5-HT and DA levels (P < 0.01); Compared with the control group, 5-HT and DA levels were increased significantly (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of the HAMD scale was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). No adverse effects were found in this trial.
Conclusion: Bushen Huoxue Herbs can improve depression of PD patients by increasing the levels of 5-HT, NE and DA in the brain and decreasing the scores of the HAMD scale with reliable effects.