Shen FF, Lin DX, Li H. Effect of paroxetine on neurological function and psychological state in patients with depression after acute ischemic stroke. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(4): 112755 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i4.112755]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Hua Li, Chief Physician, Department of Neurology, The 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the People’s Liberation Army of China, No. 90 Hongtang Road, Cangshan District, Fuzhou 350007, Fujian Province, China. 18396546869@163.com
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Psychology
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Retrospective Study
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Apr 19, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 30, 2026
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Journal Information of This Article
Publication Name
World Journal of Psychiatry
ISSN
2220-3206
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Shen FF, Lin DX, Li H. Effect of paroxetine on neurological function and psychological state in patients with depression after acute ischemic stroke. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(4): 112755 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i4.112755]
World J Psychiatry. Apr 19, 2026; 16(4): 112755 Published online Apr 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i4.112755
Effect of paroxetine on neurological function and psychological state in patients with depression after acute ischemic stroke
Feng-Feng Shen, Dong-Xiao Lin, Hua Li
Feng-Feng Shen, Dong-Xiao Lin, Hua Li, Department of Neurology, The 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the People’s Liberation Army of China, Fuzhou 350007, Fujian Province, China
Author contributions: Shen FF and Li H contributed to conception, design, data analysis, manuscript drafting, and manuscript editing; Shen FF and Lin DX contributed to collection, assembly of data, and revised the manuscript; Shen FF contributed to conception, resources, manuscript review, and manuscript editing; and all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of the 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the People’s Liberation Army of China (Approval No. 2025-101).
Informed consent statement: Patients were not required to give informed consent to the study because the analysis used anonymous clinical data that were obtained after each patient agreed to treatment by written consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Corresponding author: Hua Li, Chief Physician, Department of Neurology, The 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the People’s Liberation Army of China, No. 90 Hongtang Road, Cangshan District, Fuzhou 350007, Fujian Province, China. 18396546869@163.com
Received: September 12, 2025 Revised: November 12, 2025 Accepted: December 19, 2025 Published online: April 19, 2026 Processing time: 198 Days and 20.9 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Failure to receive timely and effective treatment for post-acute ischemic stroke (post-AIS) depression will make treatment more difficult. Additionally, the effectiveness of current drug therapy needs to be optimized.
AIM
To examine the influences of paroxetine (PARX) on the neurological function and psychological well-being in post-AIS patients with depression.
METHODS
This study involved 106 patients with post-AIS depression admitted between May 2020 and May 2023. The participants included 52 in the control group (Con), who received sertraline, and 54 in the research group (Res), treated with PARX. The two groups were compared across several aspects: Neurological function (measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), activities of daily living (assessed with the modified Barthel index), psychological status (evaluated using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale/Hamilton Depression Scales), serum biochemical markers (C-reactive protein; procalcitonin), clinical effectiveness, and the occurrence of adverse events.
RESULTS
The data showed significantly reduced scores on National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and Hamilton Depression Scale, as well as decreased levels of serum biochemical indices such as C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in the Res group after treatment, which were statistically lower than the baseline and compared to the Con group; the Res group also had a clearly higher total effective rate and modified Barthel index scores than the Con group, with a lower overall incidence of adverse events such as dry mouth, loss of appetite, headache, and insomnia.
CONCLUSION
In summary, PARX positively influences neurological function, activities of daily living, and psychological well-being in patients with post-AIS depression, warranting clinical attention.
Core Tip: We analyzed the clinical effects of paroxetine vs sertraline in treating such patients with post-acute ischemic stroke depression to improve the neurological function and psychological state of patients. Our research results indicated that paroxetine can validly enhance patients’ neurological function and activities of daily living while relieving their negative psychological states, with high curative effects and clinical safety.
