[Depressive disorders in neurologic rehabilitation: therapy with paroxetine].
OBJECTIVE
Depression is a common problem in neurological rehabilitation. Although three double-blind studies have shown the efficacy of trazodone, citalopram and nortriptyline, antidepressant drug therapy of poststroke depression is not yet considered a state-of-the-art strategy. In a hospital for neurological rehabilitation we have performed an open study on the effects of the SSRI, paroxetine, in depressive disorders caused by neurological diseases.


METHODS
111 consecutive admissions were screened for depression and 9 patients were admitted to the study having a HDRS score > or = 14.


RESULTS
10-40 mg of paroxetine were well tolerated and led to a > or = 50% reduction of the HDRS score in 8/9 patients. A patient with pathological crying, but without depression, was also successfully treated with 20 mg of paroxetine.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the SSRI, paroxetine, is an effective and well-tolerated therapy of depressive disorders caused by various neurological diseases, including also other diagnoses than stroke.
Neurologisches Zentrum, Segeberger Kliniken, Bad Segeberg. erfurth@uni-muenster.de
A
A
Erfurth
M
M
Loew
G
G
Wendler
A
A
Floreanu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017374:Paroxetine