Treatment of psychiatric syndromes due to cerebrovascular disease

Neuropsychiatric syndromes are common in the setting of cerebrovascular disease. The most frequent psychiatric syndrome after stroke is depression. Emotionalism and apathy after stroke are also frequent and under-detected symptoms. Treatment principles are broadly similar to those currently used to treat non-organically ill patients. The evidence for pharmacological and psychological treatment for depression after stroke is scant, and of variable quality. Currently there is evidence of efficacy for both tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs in the management of depression but the latter are better tolerated. Randomized controlled trials of antidepressants for post-stroke emotionalism are positive and this is encouraging. The current evidence base for psychological interventions either as first line or augmentative strategies is too limited and inconclusive to permit definite recommendations. Future studies might include multi-modal interventions using the principles of active case management and pharmacological studies which target both specific neuropsychiatric symptoms and underlying cerebrovascular disorder.