[Evaluation of the effectiveness of rehabilitation in patients after stroke with executive dysfunction]

Executive dysfunction (DES) in the form of disturbances of conscious and flexible programming, organization and control of their own actions as part of the clinical picture of stroke. impairment of the executive mechanism may reduce the efficacy of treatment of patient. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of rehabilitation on improving executive functions in patients after stroke.

The study involved 90 patients after a stroke. The study group comprised 45 patients, resident in the Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine USK of Medical University in Lodz, which was implemented in 5 week rehabilitation program including: kinesiotherapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy classes and psychological consultation and psychotherapy. The control group consisted of patients waiting for admission to the Department of Rehabilitation. The study was conducted twice: the first time, before the start of rehabilitation, the second time at the end of five weeks of the rehabilitation process. Executive functions were assessed by means of: Test of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Trail Making Test (TMT-A, TMT-B), Verbal Fluency Test (VFT).

In patients after stroke rehabilitation in the hospital was significantly greater improvement in executive function compared to those rehabilitated in environmental conditions.

Comprehensive rehabilitation in the hospital has a significant impact on improving executive functions in patients after stroke.