Effects of Intensive Exercise Training Combined with Prophylactic Antidepressant Treatment on Motor Function and Depression in Patients with Stroke

Abstract

Objective：To observe the effects of intensive exercise training combined with prophylactic antidepressant treatment on motor function and depression in patients with stroke. Methods：45 patients with stroke (not diagnosed as post stroke depression，PSD) were randomly divided into three groups by random number table: the simple treatment group, the intensive exercise training group, and the intensive exercise training + prophylactic antidepressant treatment group, each for 15 cases. The patients of 3 groups were given routine stroke drug therapy and rehabilitation training. On the basis of this, the intensive exercise training group increased motor function training once a day. In addition to increasing motor function training once a day, the intensive exercise training + prophylactic antidepressant treatment group was given further prevention of antidepressant medication. The modified Barthel index scale (MBI), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to evaluate the motor function and depression of the patients in the 2rd and 4th week after treatment. Results：Before treatment, there was no significant difference among the three groups in Barhtel, FMA and depression index. After treatment, the Barthel index and FMA score of the treatment group and the intensive exercise training + prophylactic antidepressant treatment group were significantly different from those of simple treatment group. The ADL and FMA scores of the 2 groups were higher than those of the simple treatment group（P <0.05）. Compared with the intensive exercise training group, the Barthel index and FMA score showed no significant advantage in the intensive exercise training + prophylactic antidepressant treatment group. The SDS scores of the three groups were not statistically significant between the groups before and after treatment (in the group). Conclusion：Intensive exercise training therapy can effectively improve the overall prognosis of patients with stroke and improve the effects of clinical rehabilitation. There was no statistically significant difference in the recovery of motor function and the incidence of PSD in patients receiving prophylactic antidepressant treatment compared with patients who did not receive prophylactic antidepressant treatment. Considering that there is no PSD in the patients before and after the experiment, and the observation time is short, it is still not possible to draw the conclusion that prophylactic antidepressant treatment is ineffective.