Prevalence and course of depressive disorders in hospitalized stroke patients

In a sample of ninety-nine patients seen two months post-stroke, 18 percent were diagnosed as having minor depression and 14 percent major depression. At follow-up, fifteen months later, the prevalence of depressive disorder had declined substantially, to 12 percent overall. Major depression was characterized by an average duration of thirty-nine weeks, a mortality rate of 23 percent and was associated with positive family history of affective or anxiety disorder. Among patients with left hemisphere lesions, major depression was associated with cognitive impairment. Minor depression had a shorter average duration (twelve weeks) and was more common in males. These two syndromes may define distinct types of post-stroke depression with implications for treatment interventions.