Neuropsychological study of patients after stroke and during medical rehabilitation

• Published in: Medicinski pregled Vol. 55; no. 7-8; pp. 321 - 324
• Main Authors: Tomasević, Snezana, Filipović, Danka, Naumović, Nada
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Croatian
• Published: Serbia 01-07-2002
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cognition; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Stroke - psychology; Stroke Rehabilitation
• ISSN: 0025-8105

There is a necessity for neuropsychological research in everyday clinical practice in stroke patients. Considering the fact that cognitive functions are very frequently impaired in stroke patients, there is a need to examine the level of impairment during recovery and rehabilitation therapy.
This study included 80 right-handed examinees of certain age and sex distribution. The clinical part of the study evaluated the cognitive recovery of patients by using Mini-Mental State examination and the complex reaction time test during the rehabilitation treatment, four weeks on average. The aim of this study was to establish the characteristics and dynamics of complex reaction time, Mini-Mental State examination in patients during medical rehabilitation following brain stroke.
The average values of Mini-Mental State at the beginning of treatment were 25.90 and at the end of treatment they were 28.93 (variation coefficient less than 30). Growth of average values of Mini-Mental State examination, during the rehabilitation treatment was 10.47%. In the group of patients after stroke, values of complex reaction time at the end of treatment were significantly shortened (p < 0.05), but not to the levels established in the control group.
The overall results indicate that after rehabilitation treatment there is a statistically significant improvement in cognitive recovery in all patients. Improvement of complex reaction time at the end of treatment is conditioned with complex changes in the neural system. The results of studies point to the significance of early application of facilitatory techniques, as well as neuropsychological rehabilitation of patients after brain stroke.