Preventing post-stroke depression

In a couple of months after a devastating attack, stroke victims are more likely to succumb to depression but then taking a few antidepressant drugs may reduce that risk according to a new study. While antidepressants are proven to work, problem-solving therapy also has the ability to lower the risk of depression among the victims.

Being a survivor of stroke carries the possibility of having a lot of difficulty in recovering the activities of daily life which will in turn lead to depression. This happens to more than half of the estimated 700,000 people in the United States who will have stroke.

The study in itself is centered in post-stroke depression which is a very important clinical problem. It gives evidence that pharmacological treatment will help decrease the chances of survivors from having post-stroke depression and that there could be a possible role for behavioral intervention as well. It is an important study because it can convince more people to start on preventive therapy and monitor closely for depression and then immediately start the therapy.

As of now, researchers and experts are still working on the proper treatment pattern and that what professionals should focus on right now is to evaluate patients through physical, occupational and speech therapy to help them cope up with their regular lifestyle before they went through the terror of stroke.