Abstract:

Objective

To investigate the therapeutic effects of reassurance combined with Chinese herbal drugs on mastodynia patients with depression and anxiety.

Methods

The mastodynia patients admitted in our hospital from March to November 2011, with visual analogue scale(VAS)≥6, self-rating depressive scale (SDS)≥50 and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS)≥53, were enrolled in the study. They were randomized to receive either Chinese herbal therapy (CH group, n=32) or reassurance coupled with CH (RCH group, n=30) for two months. The intensity of mastodynia was assessed before treatment, after treatment 1 month and 2 months using visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Cardiff breast pain chart. Measurement data was analyzed using t-test, group comparison using repeated measurement ANOVA analysis, and count data using the chisquare test.

Results

VAS in CH group was 6.12±0.49 before treatment, 5.19±1.00 at 2 months after treatment and the difference was statistically significant(t=4.676,P=0.000). VAS in RCH group was 6.27±0.69 before treatment,5.07±1.01 at 2 months after treatment and the difference was statistically significant(F=6.922, P=0.011). Group comparison on VAS showed no statistical difference (P=0.585). Cardiff score in CH group was 7.64±2.9 before treatment, 5.55±2.32 at 2 months after treatment and the difference was statistically significant (t=4.924,P=0.000). Cardiff score in RCH group was 7.05±2.4 before treatment,4.02±1.39 at 2 months after treatment and the difference was statistically significant (t=8.096,P=0.000).Group comparison on Cardiff score showed statistical difference(F=6.922, P=0.011).

Conclusion

For the mastodynia patients with anxiety and depression, Chinese herbal therapy is effective, if combined with rassurance, the clinical outcome is more satisfactory.

Key words: breast, Chinese herbal drugs, mastodynia, reassurance, Cardiff scale