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Sertraline in stroke‐associated lability of mood
Author(s) -
Burns Alistair,
Russell Eve,
StrattonPowell Hilary,
Tyrell Pippa,
O'Neill Paul,
Baldwin Robert
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199908)14:8<681::aid-gps49>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - sertraline , lability , mood , serotonin reuptake inhibitor , psychology , stroke (engine) , depression (economics) , reuptake inhibitor , paroxetine , placebo , fluoxetine , medicine , psychiatry , serotonin , antidepressant , anxiety , mechanical engineering , biochemistry , chemistry , alternative medicine , receptor , macroeconomics , pathology , engineering , economics
Objective To assess whether a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor is effective in the treatment of stroke‐associated lability of mood. Methods Twenty‐eight non‐depressed patients suffering from post‐stroke lability of mood took part in an 8‐week double‐blind randomized placebo‐controlled trial of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (50 mg sertraline per day). Results There were statistically significant improvements in a global rating of emotionalism and a specific benefit on tearfulness. The results are discussed in the light of proposed serontonergic mechanisms for emotional lability following stroke. Conclusions 50 mg of sertraline per day may be an effective and well‐tolerated treatment for stroke‐associated lability of mood in the absence of depression. This is supportive evidence for the serontonergic hypothesis of lability of mood following stroke. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.