Post-stroke treatment with antidepressants appears to reduce ...( in blood clotting and in the progress ...),Health

Jorge added that scientific literature also indicates depression can cause changes in blood pressure and heart rate, making depressed patients prone to serious heart attacks. "Antidepressants may modify the way a person reacts to stress and, thus, reduce the frequency of these complications," he said.

The UI study included a number of Iowans, representing primarily whites. Jorge said this limitation may mean the findings are not applicable to other groups of patients who strokes. He said future studies will need to include a large number of patients to determine whether antidepressants have a definite positive effect on people with stroke.

Jorge said that the incidence, or rate, at which people get strokes in western societies has been relatively stable for the past few years because of prevention and control of conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and other cardiovascular risk factors. However, as the population in the United States ages, the total number of strokes will eventually increase, requiring a renewed effort in implementing primary and secondary prevention strategies.

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Contact: Becky Soglin
becky-soglin@uiowa.edu
319-335-6660
University of Iowa
29-Sep-2003