Effects of post-stroke depression on the quality of life and the recovery of neurological function

doi:10.3321/j.issn:1673-8225.2005.01.009

Abstract：BACKGROUND: There was no positive conclusion on the effects of the post-stroke depression(PSD) and its treatment of anti-depression on the recovery of neurological function and the quality of life (QOL) of the stroke patients. The incidence of PSD was high, so the research on the effects should be deepened quantitively.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of PSD on QOL and the recovery of neurological function of stroke patients via the interventions of PSD and anti-depression.DESIGN: A randomized and controlled study based on the diagnosis.SETTING: Department of Neurology, General Staff Hospital of Anyang Steel and Iron Group Co. of Henan Province; Department of Neurology, Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Department of Internal Medicine,Hongan County People' s Hospital of Hubei Province.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 41 PSD outpatients and inpatients, 25 male and 16 female with the age of(61.7 ± 12. 1) years old, were selected from the Department of Neurology, General Staff Hospital of Anyang Steel and Iron Group Company of Henan Province from August 2001 to March 2002. All the patients were randomly divided into depression group with 20 patients and non-depression group with 21 patients.INTERVENTION: Before receiving amitriptyline and the mental guidance,the patients in anti-depression group were assessed with Hamilton depression rating scale(HAMD) during the first month. Stroke scale quality of life(SS-QOL) and European clinical neurologic impairment scale(ESS) were adopted to assess and observe the improvement of neurologic impairment,QOL and depression symptom during the first and the third month episode.RESULTS: Among the patients in anti-depression group, 16 patients were cured with the cure rate of 76% (16/21). Four patients had at least five score decreased after treatment, and the total effective rate was 95% (20/21 ) . The scores of SS-QOL in anti-depression group showed that there were some improvements on many aspects, such as mood, physical ability, family activities, social activities, thinking ability, work ability and so on.CONCLUSION: PSD can affect the recovery of neurological function and QOL of stroke patients. And the treatment in anti-depression group is significant to the improvement of the prognosis of patients.