Article Text
Abstract
Stroke treatment has dramatically improved in recent decades. However, although new treatments have reduced its mortality and the severity of its physical and cognitive sequelae, many people still have incapacitating disabilities following a stroke. Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder following stroke; it is important to recognise and treat as it limits motor and cognitive rehabilitation. Antidepressant medication is an effective treatment and can improve adherence to clinically recommended physical and cognitive tasks, thereby enhancing functional remodelling of neuronal pathways and improving rehabilitation outcomes.
- stroke
- depression
- rehabilitation
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Footnotes
JF-O and DE-S contributed equally.
Contributors The psychiatrist and neurologist at the Hospital de Cascais (Lisbon) conceived the idea of producing a clinically relevant review article on PSD. As such, major focus of attention was placed on the impact of depression on the clinical recovery of stroke, most recent treatment options and the future directions that should be considered in an audacious treatment of PSD. All authors have contributed substantially for the writing of the current manuscript and revised the relevant intellectual content. All authors have given final approval of the version submitted for review.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed by Alan Carson, Edinburgh, UK.
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