Cognitive behavior therapy-based intervention for a subacute stroke patient with severe fear of falling: a case report

We present the case of a 42-year-old man with subacute stroke who developed remarkable fear of falling and eventually recovered with an approach based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The CBT-based approach was implemented after the patient developed significant fear of falling with exacerbated obsessive-compulsive symptoms appeared immediately after a fall. The patient's anxiety decreased over time, and his ability to perform these tasks and activities of daily living improved accordingly. After 6 weeks of intervention, his anxiety toward gait and stairs almost disappeared; additionally, he achieved modified independence for gait and supervision for stairs and was discharged home successfully. These findings in the present case suggest the effectiveness of an evaluation and interventional approach based on CBT for stroke patients with a severe fear of falling.