The patient's Chinese disease diagnosis was established as withdrawal, and her pattern was discriminated as qi vacuity with phlegm nodulation. This was combined with either of two groups of points which were used alternately. After one treatment per day for seven continuous days, the woman's symptoms gradually improved and she was able to manage her own activities. There is emotional depression, a bland affect, taciturnity, dementia, illogical speech, and stillness or scanty stirring. This is mostly due to phlegm and qi depression and binding blocking and obscuring the heart orifices.
Antipsychotic medicines are effective in many cases.
However, they often have side effects, and many patients refuse to take them for a long time due to the suffering they cause. When electroacupuncture is combined with antipsychotics, they can be used at a lesser dose and, thus, cause fewer side effects. Hence, this combination of therapy shortens the course of the disease and achieves a higher rate of effectiveness. Copyright Blue Poppy Press, 2000. All rights reserved.