The effect of early anti-depression treatment with sertraline on post-stroke depression and blood serotonin level

Objective To discuss the effect of early combined therapy of sertraline and psychotherapy on the rehabilitation of the patients with post-stroke depression (PSD)and observe its effect on plasma and platelet serotonin(5-HT). Methods All of 130 patients with PSD were divided into sertraline treatment group (65 cases) and routine treatment group (65 eases). Every patient was given routine treatment according to treatment guideline of cerebrovascular disease after admission. The sertraline treatment group received twelve-week sertraline treatment and psychotherapy, while the routine treatment group only received psychotherapy. Patients were evaluated by HAmilton rating scale for depression (HRSD) and serf-rating depression scale (SDS) before treatment and at the ends of the 4th and 8th week treatment, respectively. Meanwhile, the levels of plasma and playlet 5-HT of every patient were measured by the enzyme immunoassay methods. Results The scores of HRSD and SDS were lower in sertraline treatment group than those in routine tretment group at the ends of the 4th and 8th week. The rate of decrease of HRSD and SDS in sertraline treatment group was higher than that in routine treatment group at the end of the 8th week (Pall 0.05). Conclusions Early treatment by sertraline can release the symptom of PSD and promote rehabilitation of PSD patients. The sertraline treatment can reduce the level of platelet 5- HT in PSD patients. However, the effect of plasma 5-HT value is not clear. Key words: Cerebrovascular accident; Depression; Sertraline; Psychotherapy; Serotonin