The Clinical Research Of The Effect Of SSRIs/Citalopram On Cognitive Impairment After Stroke

BackgroundStroke or cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is very common, especially in aged group. In China, in a population of 1 million inhabitants, approximately 2000 patients will have a stroke every year, of whom fewer than 50% will be independent 1 year later. Cognitive impairment is a frequent and important post-stroke complication, with a negative influence on quality of life, because it is associated with excess disability, depression, and mortality. A huge increase in prevalence and burden of cognitive impairment is likely to happen because of the decline in mortality after stroke and ageing of populations. At present, the treatment on cognitive impairment after stroke is not satisfied. Clinical trials for treatment of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) are in their infancy, though support the value of therapeutic interventions for symptomatic treatment. Citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is one of the most widely used antidepressants. Recently, Citalopram has been reported to improve working memory in patients with depression, and psychotic symptoms and behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia. However, the effect of Citalopram on cognitive impairment in patients with stroke is still unclear.Objective1. To observe the relationship between cognitive impairment after stroke and post-stroke depression (PSD).2. To investigated the effect of early treatment with Citalopram on cognitive impairment in patients with stroke, and observe whether Citalopram treatment be beneficial to the rehabilitation after stroke.3. To preliminarily explore the treatment mechanism of Citalopram on cognitive impairment after stroke by observing the changes of neurotransmitters in the brain with Encephalofluctuography technology (ET).Methods...