Cognitive impairments and depressive symptoms did not impede upper limb recovery in a clinical repetitive task practice program after stroke: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether cognitive impairments or depressive symptoms impeded improvement in upper limb function in a clinical repetitive task practice program.


METHODS
Participants had mild to moderate upper limb impairment after stroke (n = 20). We characterized baseline cognitive function and depressive symptoms using the Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Status and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. We measured upper limb function at baseline, week 4, and week 24 using the Action Research Arm Test.


RESULTS
Participants with and without cognitive impairments improved significantly over time (F(1,17) = 84.48, P < 0.001) regardless of cognitive status (t(31) = 1.42, P = 0.16) or time since stroke (t(17) = 0.07, P = 0.95). Participants with and without depressive symptoms improved significantly over time (F(1,18) = 86.29, P < 0.001), but participants with depressive symptoms demonstrated greater improvement than did participants with no depressive symptoms (t(31) = 3.19, P = 0.003), regardless of time since stroke (t(17) = 0.06, P = 0.95).


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary findings suggest that cognitive impairments and depressive symptoms may not impede benefit from repetitive task practice after stroke.
Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Pennsylvania, USA.
Elizabeth R
ER
Skidmore
James T
JT
Becker
Ellen M
EM
Whyte
Lynne M
LM
Huber
Laura F
LF
Waterstram
Amalie Andrew
AA
Ward
Emily S
ES
Grattan
Margo B
MB
Holm
D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*