Treatment of acute ischemic stroke: does it impact neuropsychiatric outcome?

Stroke is a leading cause of disability globally. Although neuropsychiatric symptoms are produced by stroke and adversely effect stroke outcome, it is unclear whether neuropsychiatric outcome can be improved by acute stroke treatment. The authors reviewed published acute ischemic stroke treatment trials to determine whether neuropsychiatric outcome measures were employed. Of the 190 trials reviewed, only seven included specific measures of neuropsychiatric outcome, usually a short test of cognition or mood. Further studies are needed to determine the potential benefits of acute stroke treatment on both poststroke neuropsychiatric symptoms and the relationship between such symptoms and stroke outcome.