'HeART of Stroke (HoS)', a community-based Arts for Health group intervention to support self-confidence and psychological well-being following a stroke: protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility study.

INTRODUCTION: Over 152,000 people in the UK have strokes annually and a third experience residual disability. Low mood also affects a third of stroke survivors; yet psychological support is poor. While Arts for Health interventions have been shown to improve well-being in people with mild-to-moderate depression post-stroke, their role in helping people regain sense of self, well-being and confidence has yet to be evaluated. The main aim of this study is to explore the feasibility of conducting a pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an Arts for Health group intervention ('HeART of Stroke' (HoS)) for stroke survivors. HoS is a 10-session artist-facilitated group intervention held in the community over 14 weeks. It offers a non-judgemental, supportive environment for people to explore sense of self, potentially enhancing well-being and confidence. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Sixty-four people, up to 2 years post-stroke, recruited via secondary care research staff or community stroke/rehabilitation teams in two UK centres will be randomised to either HoS plus usual care or usual care only. Self-reported outcomes, measured at baseline and approximately 5 months postrandomisation, will include stroke-related, well-being, mood, self-esteem, quality of life and process measures. Analyses will focus on estimating key feasibility parameters (eg, rates of recruitment, retention, intervention attendance). We will develop outcome and resource use data collection methods to inform an effectiveness and cost-effectiveness analysis in the future trial. Interviews, with a sample of participants, will explore the acceptability of the intervention and study processes, as well as experiences of the HoS group. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: National Health Service (NHS), Research and Development and University ethical approvals have been obtained. Two peer-reviewed journal publications are planned plus one service user led publication. Findings will be disseminated at key national conferences, local stakeholder events and via institutional websites. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN99728983.

Measuring caffeine-induced changes in middle cerebral artery blood velocity using transcranial Doppler in patients recovering from ischaemic stroke.

Acute ingestion of caffeine is known to reduce cerebral blood flow in normal volunteers and in certain patient groups. There is no evidence that this causes problems in the normal population. However, there may be implications if a similar reduction occurs in patients recovering from an ischaemic stroke, in whom local blood flow has already been reduced. Transcranial Doppler provides a non-invasive method for measuring changes in middle cerebral artery (mca) blood velocity. A method for obtaining consistent. reliable measurements was developed and used in a double blind, randomized, crossover study on 20 patients (18 M, 2 F; mean age 70) recovering from ischaemic stroke in the mca territory. Middle cerebral artery blood velocity was measured bilaterally using transcranial Doppler before and after 250 mg caffeine (equivalent to about two cups of filter coffee) or matched placebo. Caffeine caused an average 12% reduction in blood velocity compared to placebo in the hemisphere affected by the stroke (95%c CI 8%-16%, p < 0.00001), and a 12% reduction in the non-affected hemisphere (95% CI 6%-18%, p < 0.001). The clinical implications are unclear at present, and imaging techniques will be required to establish whether caffeine does reduce flow to hypo-perfused regions.

Caffeine reduces cerebral blood flow in patients recovering from an ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Caffeine is present in a variety of beverages and food and is widely consumed. In a previous study of patients recovering from an acute ischaemic stroke using transcranial Doppler ultrasound we demonstrated a fall in middle cerebral artery blood velocity of 12% following ingestion of 250 mg caffeine. The aim of this study was to investigate if this velocity change reflected a change in cerebral blood flow. METHODS: The study used a randomised, double blind, cross-over design. Nineteen patients recovering from an acute ischaemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory and 10 controls attended two sessions, having abstained from caffeine for 48 hours previously. At each session cerebral blood flow was measured four times using xenon clearance, twice before the oral administration of 250 mg caffeine or matched placebo, and twice after. Similarly, three middle cerebral artery blood velocity readings using transcranial Doppler were made prior to administration and four after. RESULTS: The caffeine resulted in a significant fall in cerebral blood flow and middle cerebral artery blood velocity compared to placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Since caffeine is present in the diet of most patients recovering from an acute ischaemic stroke this effect may have adverse clinical consequences.