Enhanced Motor Recovery Using Serotonergic Agents in Stroke
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-01-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The information derived from this study will be critical to establishing appropriate
rehabilitative interventions post-stroke. In particular, traditional use of pharmacological
agents to alter motor function post-stroke is directed primarily at reducing the "positive"
signs following upper motor neuron lesion, in particular spasticity, or enhanced,
velocity-dependent stretch reflex responses to imposed stretch. While pharmacological
management of spasticity certainly suppresses clinical and quantitative measures of
hypertonia, there is little improvement in functional performance. In contrast, preliminary
data on the administration of 5HT agents following neurological injury indicates an increase
in motor performance (Pariente 2001) and recovery (Dam 1996), despite an increase in spastic
motor activity (Stolp-Smith 1999; see Preliminary Data below). Understanding methods to
maximize function following stroke despite potential, short-term increases in spastic motor
activity may improve therapeutic intervention strategies. The general objective of this study
is therefore to:
1. quantify the effects of short-term SSRI administration on voluntary and spastic motor
behaviors in individuals with chronic spastic hemiparesis,
2. identify the changes in impairments and functional recovery of walking ability during
BWSTT with the presence or absence of SSRIs.
Phase:
Phase 1
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Shirley Ryan AbilityLab