Correlation study between motor rehabilitation level and psychological state in patients with limb movement disorders after stroke

Abstract

BACKGROUND The psychological state of patients with post stroke limb movement disorders undergoes a series of changes that affect rehabilitation training and recovery of limb motor function. AIM To determine the correlation between motor rehabilitation and the psychological state of patients with limb movement disorders after stroke. METHODS Eighty patients with upper and lower limb dysfunction post stroke were retrospectively enrolled in our study. Based on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores measured before rehabilitation, patients with HADS scores ≥ 8 were divided into the psychological group; otherwise, the patients were included in the normal group. Motor function and daily living abilities were compared between the normal and psychological groups. Correlations between the motor function and psychological status of patients, and between daily living ability and psychological status of patients were analyzed. RESULTS After 1, 2, and 3 wk of rehabilitation, both the Fugl-Meyer assessment and Barthel index scores improved compared to their respective baseline scores (P < 0.05). A greater degree of improvement was observed in the normal group compared to the psychological group (P < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between negative emotions and limb rehabilitation (-0.592 ≤ r ≤ -0.233, P < 0.05), and between negative emotions and daily living ability (-0.395 ≤ r ≤ -0.199, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION There is a strong correlation between motor rehabilitation and the psychological state of patients with post stroke limb movement disorders. The higher the negative emotions, the worse the rehabilitation effect.