Post-Stroke Depression: The Associated Factors and Effective Intervention
Other Title
中風後抑鬱症之相關影響因素及其處置
Journal
台灣健康照顧研究學刊
Journal Volume
2
Pages
93+95
Date Issued
2007-01
Author(s)
Abstract
Stroke is a major health problem in the elderly population in Taiwan. Patients who have had strokes are at significant risk for various neuropsychiatric illnesses. The most common and important neuropsychiatric illnesses is poststroke depression (PSD). PSD affects the speed of recovery, functional outcome, and has an important impact on the quality of life of patients with stroke. PSD also increase institutional length of stays and health care cost. Therefore, PSD is an important public health issue and has received the most attention in stroke research. In clinical practice, only minority of PSD patients are diagnosed and even fewer are treated. This paper reviews the current literature on PSD and offers an integrated approach to PSD concepts, prevalence of PSD, associated factors, and practical pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic intervention for PSD. Effective pharmacologic treatment includes anti-depressants: SSRI, TCA; Chinese pharmacy (tonic to the heart and spleen & smooth depression decoction) etc. Nonpharmacologic treatment includes ECT, Psychotherapy, and educational counselling. Drug therapy is the first choice intervention for PSD. This paper highlights the importance of early recognition and emphasis on clinical support and therapy in the care of patients with depression following stroke. Research to prevent and reduce depression after stroke might be a worthy project for the future.
Subjects
Stroke
Depression
Effective intervention
Associated factors
SDGs
Type
journal article