OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of WAA combined with fluoxetine in the clinical treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD).METHODS: In this randomized,controlled and single-blind trial,105 PSD patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into three equal groups: Thin wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) group (Thin WAA needle + Fluoxetine),Thick WAA group (Thick WAA needle + Fluoxetine),and Sham WAA group (sham WAA needle + Fluoxetine).In this trial,the primary outcome was Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD),while the secondary outcomes included Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) and World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (QQL).RESULTS: Ninety nine PSD patients completed all the treatment.The HAMD scores and SDS scores of all the three groups decreased after treatment (P ＜ 0.05);thick WAA group and thin WAA group decreased more obviously than the sham WAA group (P ＜ 0.0S).There was no significant difference between the QQL scores of the three groups (P ＞ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the scores of the three scales between the thick wrist ankle needles and the thin wrist ankle needles (P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: The present study showed that WAA combined with fluoxetine can relieve the symptoms of depression after stroke.WAA therapy could improve the antidepressant effect of fluoxetine.