Reducing depressive or anxiety symptoms in post-stroke patients: Pilot trial of a constructive integrative psychosocial intervention

Yihong Fang; Elias Mpofu; James Athanasou

Reducing depressive or anxiety symptoms in post-stroke patients: Pilot trial of a constructive integrative psychosocial intervention

Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017 Sep-Oct;11(4):53-58.

Authors

Yihong Fang^{1

2}, Elias Mpofu^{1

3}, James Athanasou¹

Affiliations

¹ Discipline of Rehabilitation Counselling, Faculty of Health Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
² Department of Rehabilitation Service, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
³ Department of Educational Psychology and Inclusive Education, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.

PMID: 29085269
PMCID: PMC5654182

Abstract

Background: About 30% of stroke survivors clinically have depressive symptoms at some point following stroke and anxiety prevalence is around 20-25%.

Objective: The purpose of this brief report is to evaluate a pilot trial of a constructive integrative psychosocial intervention (CIPI) over standard care in post-stroke depression or anxiety.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to either CIPI (n = 23) or standard care (n = 19). Patients were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at the 1^st, 3^rd, and 6^th months to monitor changes of mood.

Results: A Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated that compared to admission baseline, patients with the intervention had significantly normal post-stroke depression symptom levels at the 1^st, 3^rd, and 6^th months (P < 0.005).

Conclusion: CIPI appears to be of incremental value in treating depression as well as anxiety in subacute care.

Keywords: Anxiety symptoms; depressive symptoms; post-stroke anxiety; post-stroke depression.