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Stroke and mental health care: a record linkage study
G Driessen1, S Evers, F Verhey
1Maastricht University, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, The Netherlands.
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
|February 13, 2002
Summary
Stroke patients have a significantly higher risk of using mental health services compared to the general population. Their mental healthcare use is often episodic, peaking around the time of stroke admission.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Stroke is frequently linked to psychiatric conditions.
- Limited data exists on mental health service utilization among stroke survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mental health care use patterns in stroke patients.
- To compare mental health service contact between stroke patients and the general population.
Main Methods:
- A population-based record linkage study was performed.
- Stroke cases (1987-1995) were linked to psychiatric case register data.
- The study covered a defined hospital catchment area.
Main Results:
- Stroke patients exhibited a >2-fold increased risk of mental health care contact (RR 2.24).
- Prevalence rates were 88/1000 for stroke patients vs. 39/1000 for the general population.
- One-third of stroke patients had prior mental health care; over half received it post-stroke.
Conclusions:
- Stroke is associated with a significantly elevated probability of engaging with mental health services.
- Stroke patients' mental health care patterns are distinct, characterized by episodic use concentrated around stroke admission.