Emerging Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Post-stroke Depression and its Future Aspects: A Review

Post-Stroke Depression (PSD) is a psychiatric disorder associated with stroke which has an adverse effect on the cognitive function and survival. It usually develops in 40% of the stroke survivors within 3 months. We performed a thorough literature review using PsychInfo, PubMed, Science Direct and PLOS databases for the non-pharmacological treatment of PSD. Early rehabilitation and psychological therapies are effective in treating depression in PSD while physiotherapy and music therapy improves both cognitive and movement disability. Transcranial stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy are invasive procedures used to treat cognitive impairment in PSD. Computerized therapy helps, enhance the attention, memory and executive functioning. DepReT stroke is a package which addresses patients along with their caregiver to have a better understanding of the depression. Robot assisted rehabilitation along with traditional rehabilitation is effective in treating motor function associated with PSD. Early assessment, treatment and rehabilitation are the most effective ways to prevent depression in stroke survivors and thereby improving their quality of life. Non-pharmacological treatment for post-stroke depression seem to be efficacious as antidepressants in improving depressive symptoms with minimal side effects.