Neuropsychiatric disorders following vascular brain injury

Abstract

Several neuropsychiatric disorders such as mood, anxiety and psychotic disorders occur following cerebrovascular lesions. Post-stroke depression is the most common of these disorders and, along with post-stroke anxiety, has been shown to inhibit physical and cognitive recovery. Antidepressants have been shown to effectively treat post-stroke depression and to have a positive impact on rehabilitation efforts in patients suffering from this disorder. Much less is known about the potential impact of psychiatric conditions on recovery after stroke. Controlled trials will be able to adequately determine the effectiveness of treatment for these disorders.