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Coping Strategy for Post-Stroke Depression

Stroke-related depression is a real problem for individuals who have had a stroke, as well as their friends and family members. There has been much research lately regarding the subject, as many experts attempt to find the best solution for post-stroke depression.

  1. Developing a Monitoring and Evaluation System

    • Researchers from Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center have been developing a theory. In the March 2007 issue of Stroke, they report that a new (at the time) care management program called AIM is significantly more effective than the average post-stroke depression care. In the past, doctors and medical care professionals focused primarily on the use of antidepressants and improving overall depression in stroke survivors and have found this method to be less effective than a monitoring and evaluation system.

    What is AIM?

    • AIM consists of three important steps: allowing stroke survivors and their families to understand and accept the stroke survivor's depression and overall diagnosis and treatment for their condition; using antidepressant medication; and monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment plan overall. AIM is just one of three parts of a new post-stroke depression management care program being offered in the health care industry today. This program was developed by Dr. Peter Williams and study co-authors. The care of the patients who participated in the study was administered by nurses and a professional health care management team. Much of this new program can be delivered via telephone intervention and is supervised by nurses, social workers and health care physicians.

    How Effective Is It?

    • According to the research study, 39 percent of AIM patients had a total remission from depression symptoms after completing the program in just 12 weeks. Only 23 percent of patients improved with the usual care of psychological therapy and antidepressants. That being said, for every six or seven stroke victims treated with a monitoring and evaluation program such as AIM, there will be at least one patient whose depression is completely cured, according to the study results. Approximately 16 percent of patients saw their depression improve drastically, even though they were not completely cured, and 44 percent of study participants had a reduction in depression symptoms, compared to 29 percent under normal care guidance. The study had 188 post-stroke participants from four different Indianapolis hospitals. The depression screening occurred within 30 to 60 days after the stroke.

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