title: Effect of antidepressant therapy on executive function after stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Executive dysfunction is common after stroke and may impair long-term outcome. Remedies for this condition are limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of antidepressants on executive function after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients who had had a stroke during the prior 6 months received 12 weeks of antidepressant treatment in double-blind placebo-controlled fashion, followed by assessment of executive function at the end of treatment and after 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant group effect was found at the end of treatment. However, 21 months after the end of treatment the placebo group showed deterioration of executive function, whereas the active treatment group showed clear and significant improvement independent of depressive symptoms (F=12.1, d.f.=1,45, P= 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antidepressant treatment fosters long-term improvement of executive function following stroke. This phenomenon is consistent with a reorganisation of neuronal networks associated with prefrontal functions based on modulation of monoaminergic neurotransmission and the activity of neurotrophins.
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 200 Hawkins Drive, W278 GH, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narushima
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paradiso
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; D009661:Nortriptyline