Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of Jinkui Shenqi Pill in improving the fatigue of depression patients with kidney deficiency and liver stagnation. Methods Sixty depression patients were randomly divided into two groups:trial group of 30 cases and control group of 30 cases. The patients in the control group were treated with escitalopram oxalate,at a starting dose of 10 mg/d, at 2 weeks increased to 20 mg/d, once a day, taken in the morning at a draught. And the control group were treated with Jinkui Shenqi Pill (Zhipipian 6 g, Guizhi 12 g, Achyranthes 10 g, Plantago 15 g, Rehmannia 10 g, Alisma orientalis 10 g, cornus 12 g, Chinese yam and medicine 10g, Poria 30g, moutan 12g, one dose per day, divided to be taken twice, in the morning and evening, each time 200 mL was taken) combined with escitalopram oxalate. The treatment course was 8 weeks. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Fatigue Self Assessment Scale (FSAS) and the Fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14) were used before and at the end of 2, 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Results The total effective rate was 86.7% in the trial group and 60% in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). FS-14 score was significantly lower than that of the trial group at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks, the difference was significant (P<0.01). Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect of time (F=495.021,P=0.000), FS-14 scores of the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment, evaluation of the interaction time groups was significant (F=40.923,P=0.000), a significant effect between groups (F=17.516, P=0.000). FSAS score was significantly lower than that of the trial group at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks, the difference was significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect of time (F=2 687.437,P=0.000), FSAS scores of the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment, evaluation of the interaction time groups was significant (F=574.799, P=0.000), a significant effect between groups (F=8.087,P=0.006). The HAMD score of the trial group was significantly lower than that of the control group at the end of 2, 4 and 8 weeks (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect of time (F=9.374,P=0.001), the HAMD scores of the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment, evaluation of the interaction time groups was significant (F=9.374, P=0.001), a significant interacting effect between groups (F=4.593, P=0.037). Conclusion Jinkui Shenqi pill could significantly improve the fatigue of depression patients and it is worthy of clinical application.

Key words: Jinkui Shenqi Pill, depression, fatigue, kidney deficiency and liver stagnation