Research of rehabilitation nursing in elderly patients with post-stroke depression

• Main Authors: Ying-hua XIA, Wei-wei SU, Ying QI, Xin JIN, Yuan YAO, Yun ZHANG, Ming-yi ZHANG
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tianjin Huanhu Hospital 2013-10-01
• Series: Chinese Journal of Contemporary Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Subjects: Stroke; Depression; Exercise movement techniques; Psychotherapy; Rehabilitation nursing
• Online Access: http://www.cjcnn.org/index.php/cjcnn/article/view/834

<strong>Objective</strong> To investigate the influence of rehabilitation nursing including psychological counseling and exercise training on post-stroke depression patients. <strong>Methods</strong> Eighty patients with post-stroke depression were divided into 2 groups: rehabilitation group (combination of conventional drug treatment and auxiliary exercise and phychological therapy, N = 40) and control group (drug and auxiliary exercise therapy, N = 40). These patients were assessed by using Barthel Index (BI) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) on admission and 3 months after treatment respectively. <strong>Results</strong> There was no statistically significant difference in the BI and HAMD score between rehabilitation group and control group on admission [BI: 58.69 (51.57, 57.40) vs 59.02 (55.15, 61.27), HAMD: 13.52 (10.87, 15.02) vs 13.85 (10.50, 14.42); P &gt; 0.05]. After 3 months' treatment, the ability of daily living was obviously improved and HAMD score decreased in rehabilitation group, and the differences with control group were statistically significant [BI: 71.28 (69.20, 73.20) vs 58.31 (57.53, 63.37); HAMD: 8.05 (7.32, 10.78) vs 14.98 (12.68, 17.80); P &lt; 0.05]. <strong>Conclusion</strong> Combination of exercise training, psychological rehabilitation and drug treatment is beneficial for alleviating post-stroke depression and improving the recovery of neurological function and prognosis.