Effect of donepezil hydrochloride combined with comprehensive rehabilitation on memory impairment of patients after traumatic brain injury

Objective To explore the treatment efficacy and safty of donepezil hydrochloride combined with comprehensive rehabilitation in memory impairment of patients after traumatic brain injury(TBI).Methods Seventy-six patients with TBI,admitted to our hospital from May 2008 to October 2010,were randomly divided into control group(n=38)and treatment group(n=38)using a case-control study method; patients from control group were given memory training,cognitive training and other comprehensive rehabilitation therapy while those from treatment group were given donepezil hydrochloride combined with comprehensive rehabilitation therapy for 3 months.Wechsler memory scale (WMS)was used to evaluate the efficacy and the drug adverse reactions were observed.Results As compared with those before treatment,the scores of forward counting in the long-term memory,scores of recall and recognition in short-term memory,scores of counting without looking in immediate memory and total scores of WMS were significantly higher in the cnntrol group after treatment(P＜0.05); as compared with those before treatment,the scores of long term memory(forvard counting,backward counting and adding),and scores of recall,recognition and logic memory in short-term memory,scores of counting without looking in immediate memory,and total scores of W-MS were significantly higher in the treatment group after treatment(P＜0.05); as compared with those in the control group after treatment,the scores of adding in long term memory,scores of logic memory in short-term memory and total scores of WMS were significantly higher in the treatment group after treatment(P＜0.05); oral administration of donepezil hydrochloride showed no significant adverse reactions.Conclusion Donepezil hydrochloride therapy combined with memory training,cognitive training and other comprehensive rehabilitation program is more effective than comprehensive rehabilitation therapy alone for memory impairment of patients after TBI. Key words: Craniocerebral trauma;  Donepezil hydrochloride;  Cognitive training; Comprehensive rehabilitation therapy