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A Double-blind Trial

Michael J. Reding, MD; Louise A. Orto, MS; Steven W. Winter; Ilia M. Fortuna, CSW; Pompeo Di Ponte, RPh; Fletcher H. McDowell, MD

Arch Neurol. 1986;43(8):763-765.

Abstract
• Twenty-seven inpatients participating in a stroke rehabilitation program were randomized to receive either placebo or trazodone hydrochloride (Desyrel) beginning a mean (± SEM) of 44 ± 4 days after stroke. The target dosage was 200 mg/d. Patients with either a clinical diagnosis of depression or abnormal Zung depression scores showed a consistent trend toward greater improvement in Barthel activities of daily living (ADL) scores with trazodone than with placebo. An abnormal dexamethasone suppression test result was associated with significant improvement in the Barthel ADL scores of patients receiving trazodone (38 ± 6 vs 20 ± 6 for placebo). Patients with stroke and evidence of depression are therefore likely to benefit from treatment with trazodone.

Author Affiliations
From the Altschul Laboratory for Dementia Research, Cornell University Medical College at The Burke Rehabilitation Center, White Plains, NY.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Feb 26, 1986.

Reprint requests to The Burke Rehabilitation Center, 785 Mamoreneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10605 (Dr Reding).

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