A Study on the Preventive Effect of Electroacupuncture Combined With Dexmedetomidine in Post-stroke Depression

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common neuropsychiatric complication following stroke and has emerged as a major public health concern due to its adverse impact on post-stroke prognosis. Clinical studies have confirmed that early intervention with electroacupuncture can significantly reduce PSD incidence and alleviate depressive severity. Mechanistically, electroacupuncture exerts antidepressant effects through inhibition of the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway and attenuation of neuronal apoptosis. Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α₂-adrenergic receptor agonist, not only provides sedation and analgesia but also confers neuroprotective actions, including anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and blood-brain barrier protective effects. Its efficacy in preventing postpartum depression has been clinically validated. Given the substantial burden of PSD and the limitations of existing preventive approaches, the present study aims to investigate the value of a combined electroacupuncture and dexmedetomidine strategy for PSD prevention, with the goal of developing a safe and effective integrative treatment regimen for this frequent post-stroke complication.

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Key information

Conditions

Post-stroke Depression

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Ischemic stroke with a disease course of less than 2 weeks;
Patients with high-risk PSD;
The patient can accept the treatment plan described in this trial and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

Cognitive impairment;
Severe aphasia or significant language impairment;
Disturbance of consciousness;
History of psychiatric disorders, including but not limited to depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder;
Alcohol or substance dependence;
Use of sedatives or antipsychotic medications within 2 weeks prior to screening;
Severe cardiac, hepatic, or renal dysfunction;
Complicated with acute severe conditions or unstable vital signs;
Pregnancy or lactation;
Contraindications or intolerance to electroacupuncture;
Sick sinus syndrome, severe bradycardia (heart rate < 50 bpm), second-degree or higher atrioventricular block, permanent pacemaker implantation, severe heart failure, or ejection fraction < 30%;
Known allergy to any of the study medications;
Inability to complete the study procedures due to any unavoidable circumstances.

Treatment and study plan

Dexmedetomidine

Drug

Intranasal titration of dexmedetomidine (1μg/kg)

Electropuncture

Drug

Electroacupuncture treatment

Normal Saline (NS)

Drug

0.9% normal saline

Shame electropuncture

Drug

Shame electropuncture treatment

Primary outcomes

The incidence of PSD 3 months after stroke

Time frame: 3 months after stroke

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Yanping Zhang

CONTACT

[email protected]

+8615223049366

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Min Su

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Jul 31, 2026
Registry last updated: Jul 31, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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