Cambridge University Press, CNS Spectrums, 3(5), p. 59-69, 2000
DOI: 10.1017/s1092852900012979
Full text: Unavailable
AbstractPsychopharmacology is rapidly becoming an adjuvant treatment to traditional rehabilitation strategies for patients with stroke or brain injury because it helps to facilitate recovery in a time-efficient manner. Norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin appear to play important roles in recovery from stroke or brain injury. Animal models have shown that blockade of these neurotransmitters inhibits recovery, whereas recovery is promoted by drugs that promote norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin activity. Preliminary evidence from human trials supports these finding. Further study is needed, but expanded use of pharmacologic agents for stroke and brain-injured patients appears imminent.