Article

The aim was to evaluate behavioural therapy as a treatment for low
mood in people with aphasia. Design: A randomized controlled trial comparing
behavioural therapy plus usual care with a usual care control. Potential
participants with aphasia after stroke were screened for the presence of low
mood. Those who met the criteria and gave consent were randomly allocated.
Setting: Participants were recruited from hospital wards, community
rehabilitation, speech and language therapy services and stroke groups. Subjects:
Of 511 people with aphasia identified, 105 had low mood and were recruited.
Interventions: Behavioural therapy was offered for up to three months. Outcomes
were assessed three and six months after random allocation. Main measures: Stroke
Aphasic Depression Questionnaire, Visual Analog Mood Scales 'sad' item, and
Visual Analogue Self-Esteem Scale. Results: Participants were aged 29 to 94 years
(mean 67.0, SD 13.5) and 66 (63%) were men. Regression analysis showed that at
three months, when baseline values and communication impairment were controlled
for, group allocation was a significant predictor of the Stroke Aphasic
Depression Questionnaire (P < 0.05), visual analogue 'sad' (P = 0.03), and Visual
Analogue Self-Esteem Scale (P < 0.01). At six months, group alone was a
significant predictor of the Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire (P < 0.05),
and remained significant when baseline values were controlled for (P = 0.02).
Mean Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire 10-item hospital version scores
decreased from baseline to six months by six points in the intervention group as
compared with an increase of 1.9 points in the control group. Conclusions:
Behavioural therapy seemed to improve the mood of people with aphasia.

Langue : ANGLAIS