Effect of citalopram on depression and cognitive functions of stroke patients

Post stroke depression is a common state after stroke causing disability and affects cognitive status in patients. Present study tried to show the effect of citalopram on post stroke depression as well as cognitive state.

in clinical trial study all patients with acute ischemic stroke who had been consecutively admitted to the Ghaem Hospital (from 1388-1389)، in Mashhad were evaluated for inclusion in the study. (218 person). In first visit neurological tests and hamilton rating test for depression were taken. At last 89 patients admitted az sample of study. Cognitive impairment was assessed with the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS). The severity of the depressive symptoms was measured by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Then they were classified into those with severe depressive symptoms (HAM-D >20; N=18)، with mild depressive symptoms (HAM-D scores 12-19; N=39) and non-depressed patients (HAM-D scores < 12; N=32). Patients with severe depressive symptoms were treated with citalopram. Statistical analysis was performed using spss version 11.

HRDS، MMSE and DRS scores had significant change at the baseline and the end of study in group treated by citalopram. There were significant differences between DRS scores in attention domain at the baseline and the end of study in both citalopram group and without depression.

These data suggest that treatment of depressive symptoms in the acute phase of stroke improves both mood and cognition and would be a reasonable treatment for patients suffering post stroke depression and cognitive change after stroke