To evaluate the clinical efficacy of auricular therapy in patients with thyroid nodules of liver qi stagnation type combined with anxiety and depression.

One hundred and ten patients with TI-RADS 3 thyroid nodules of liver qi stagnation type combined with anxiety and depression were selected from January 2021 to June 2021, and they were divided into either an observation group (auricular therapy) or a control group (follow-up observation), with 55 cases in each groups. All the patients were given the same basic guidance to avoid less spicy or stimulating food, eat a light diet, and conduct appropriate exercise and emotional regulation. The control group was not give drugs or related external treatment, and was only followed up. The observation group received auricular therapy for 4 weeks with an observation period of 12 weeks. Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score, self-rating depression scale (SDS) score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score, TCM syndrome score, thyroid ultrasound, and the changes of thyroid function indexes were evaluated to observe the improvement of bad mood and TCM syndrome in the two groups. Liver and kidney function was monitored to observe the occurrence of adverse reactions.

The TCM syndrome score at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment in the observation group was significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.05); the TCM syndrome improvement rate at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment was 85.45% and 98.18%, respectively, in the observation group, significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). SAS, PDA, and PSQI scores at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after treatment were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). There were changes of thyroid nodule size and thyroid function after the treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Seven patients in the observation group developed redness and pain of different degrees at the site of therapy in 4 weeks of treatment, and no patients in the control group developed such complications (P<0.05). After symptomatic treatment, no sequelae related to the complications occurred. There was no difference in liver and kidney function in the two groups (P>0.05).

Auricular therapy can significantly reduce the anxiety and depression scores of patients with thyroid nodules of liver qi stagnation type combined with anxiety and depression, improve their sleep quality, adjust their bad mood, improve TCM syndrome, and have few adverse reactions.