Depression impedes neuroplasticity and quality of life after stroke

The solution to this is so fucking obvious. EXACT STROKE REHAB PROTOCOLS WITH NUMBER OF REPETITIONS.  With a goal to shoot for with results in sight survivors will do any amount of effort to recover.

Depression impedes neuroplasticity and quality of life after stroke

 

Poonam Chaturvedi¹, Vandana Tiwari², Ajai Kumar Singh¹, Abdul Qavi¹, Anup Kumar Thacker^1
1 Department of Neurology, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
² Department of Biochemistry, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

Date of Submission	17-Feb-2020
Date of Decision	13-Mar-2020
Date of Acceptance	07-Apr-2020
Date of Web Publication	25-Aug-2020

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Vandana Tiwari
Women Scientist (DST) and PhD, Department of Biochemistry, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
India

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_273_20

Abstract

Background and Purpose: 

Depression following a stroke/poststroke depression (PSD) has been newly recognized as one of the most common complications after stroke. PSD may affect neuroplasticity and quality of life. The purpose of present study was to find out effects of depression on functional recovery, quality of life and neuroplasticity in patients with acute stroke.  

Methods: 

A total of 76 cases were recruited for the study and out of which 44 were available for the analysis after six months. Patients were divided into three groups according to severity of depression: Group A (without depression), Group B (mild-to-moderate depression), and Group C (severe depression) on the basis of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale scores. All patients were assessed for depression by PHQ-9, and for quality of life by Stroke Specific Quality of Life (SSQOL) scale. Neuroplasticity was assessed by measuring levels of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor. 

Results: 

Quality of life was observed to be significantly affected by depression (P ≤ 0.05). The most commonly affected characteristics were energy, family roles, mobility, self-care, social roles, upper extremity function, and work productivity. Serum BDNF levels were also affected significantly by depression (P ≤ 0.05).  

Conclusion: 

PSD is a serious complication, affecting quality of life and neuroplasticity (BDNF) in patients. Decreased neuroplasticity further may affect functional improvement.

Keywords: BDNF, poststroke depression (PSD), neuroplasticity, quality of life, stroke

How to cite this article: Chaturvedi P, Tiwari V, Singh AK, Qavi A, Thacker AK. Depression impedes neuroplasticity and quality of life after stroke. J Family Med Prim Care 2020;9:4039-44