A Digital Intervention for Post-Stroke Depression and Executive Dysfunction

Description

Post-stroke depression with executive dysfunction (DED) is associated with persistent mood and cognitive disturbance, poor social functioning, and disability. Existing interventions have limited evidence of efficacy, side effects, and can be difficult for stroke patients to access. This study aims to evaluate a remote digital intervention for post-stroke DED that combines iPad-based cognitive training using a program called AKL-T01 with virtual coaching to improve executive dysfunction, depression, and daily function after stroke. The primary hypothesis is that individuals randomized to the intervention arm (AKL-T01 + coaching) will demonstrate greater improvement in their executive functioning and depression symptoms and daily function relative to the comparator arm. The secondary hypothesis is that individuals randomized to the intervention arm will demonstrate greater increase in the functional connectivity of the executive control network (ECN, assessed with an MRI scan) at the conclusion of treatment, relative to participants randomized to the comparator arm.