Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of the combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and oral paroxetine hydrochloride in patients with post-stroke depression

Bin Tian¹, Shiwei Zhang², Qingyong Li³, Chengyong Sun⁴, Ya’nan Wu⁵, Hairong Yang², Zhan Gao⁶

¹Neurology Department, Dongying Traditional Chinese Hospital, Dongying City, China; ²Department of Psychiatry, Dongying Traditional Chinese Hospital, Dongying City, China; ³Neurosurgery Department, Dongying Traditional Chinese Hospital, Dongying City, China; ⁴Department of Psychiatry, Dongying Traditional Chinese Hospital, Dongying City, China; ⁵Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular Department, Zhejiang Putuo Hospital, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, China; ⁶6Neurology Department, Zhejiang Putuo Hospital, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, China.

For correspondence:- Zhan Gao Email: shanzhatang1213@163.com

Accepted: 31 August 2022 Published: 30 September 2022

Citation: Tian B, Zhang S, Li Q, Sun C, Wu Y, Yang H, et al. Effect of the combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and oral paroxetine hydrochloride in patients with post-stroke depression. Trop J Pharm Res 2022; 21(9):1993-2000 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v21i9.25

© 2022 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effects of combined use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and paroxetine hydrochloride tablets in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD), and its effect on scores on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) and Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL).

Methods: Clinical data for 96 patients with PSD who were treated in Dongying Traditional Chinese Hospital, Dongying City, China from June 2018 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into treatment group (TG, n = 48) and reference group (RG, n = 48) based on odd and even hospitalization numbers. Both groups received conventional treatment, but RG patients were in addition given clopidogrel, while TG received CBT in combination with paroxetine hydrochloride tablets. Clinical indices were evaluated in both groups before and after treatment. Moreover, therapeutic effects in the two different treatment methods on PSD, as well as on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) and Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) scores were analyzed.

Results: After treatment, TG had lower HAMD score (p < 0.001), lower scores on modified Rankin scale, and few incidences of adverse reactions at 3, 7, 15 and 30 days of treatment (p < 0.05), but higher total clinical effectiveness and mean SS-QOL score (p < 0.05), when compared with RG.

Conclusion: Combined use of CBT and oral paroxetine hydrochloride tablets may be a promising strategy for treating depression and enhancing the quality of life of PSD patients, as it greatly improves neurological deficit and prognosis. However, further clinical trials should be carried out prior to introducing it in clinical practice.

Keywords: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Paroxetine hydrochloride, Cerebral stroke, Depression, HAMD score, Quality of life