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[Sertraline in the treatment of post-stroke depression--results of an open multicenter study]
U A Zifko1, Monika Rupp, Sigrid Schwarz
1Sonderkrankenanstalt für Neurologie der Rehabilitationsklinik Pirawarth, Arbeitskreises für klinische Forschung in der Neurorehabilitation, Bad Pirawarth.
Background:
The aim of the study is to test the tolerability and efficacy of 50 mg Sertralin in the treatment of Post-Stroke depression (PSD).
Methods:
Open-label, 3-months study of in- and outpatients. Evaluation of the 5-Item WHO-Wellbeing Index, the Clinical Global Impression test (CGI) and documentation of the subjective evaluation of tolerability and efficacy by patients and examining doctors.
Patients:
267 out of 287 patients (150 women, 137 men; mean age 68.6 +/- 12.1 years with a range from 27 to 100 years) took part in the study over a 12 months period.
Results:
Eight patients had to stop the study because of side-effects. The WHO-Wellbeing Index improved from a baseline value of 26.7 +/- 17.1 to 45.0 +/- 18.3 after 4 weeks (p < 0.001), and to 57.2 +/- 19.5 after 12 weeks (p < 0.001). The CGI after 12 weeks gave evidence of an improvement in 252 patients (88%). No change of PSD was seen in 10 patients (3%), and deterioration of PSD was observed in 5 patients (2%). The duration between onset of treatment and improvement was 13.3 +/- 6 days.
Conclusions:
A single dose of 50 mg Sertralin is well tolerated in patients with PSD. The WHO-Wellbeing Index and the CGI gave evidence of significant improvement of PSD in the majority of examined patients participating in this open-label study.
