Research progress on traditional Chinese medicine animal models of post-stroke depression and pathological insights

Abstract

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common psychiatric complication affecting nearly one-third of stroke survivors, leading to increased disability, mortality, and cognitive decline. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has proven effective in treating PSD through syndrome differentiation, yet existing animal models primarily reflect Western medical concepts and fail to incorporate the TCM principle of “同病异治” (treating the same disease with different methods). This paper provides a review of the current methods for constructing animal models of post-stroke depression (PSD) from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation and proposes multi-dimensional assessment indicators. By integrating TCM theories with modern biomedical techniques, this study offers a comprehensive framework for deepening the understanding of the pathogenesis and therapeutic evaluation of PSD. This approach not only contributes to advancing PSD research but also paves the way for innovative treatment strategies that combine traditional and modern medicine.