[Screening post-stroke depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a simple tool for screening mood disorders.
• Post-stroke patients are at high risk for depression and anxiety.
• The clinical utility of HADS in Polish post-stroke survivors has not been previously established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the clinical value of the HADS for screening depressive and anxiety disorders in Polish post-stroke patients.
• To determine the optimal cut-off score for HADS in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 116 patients experiencing their first ischemic stroke was studied.
• The HADS was administered at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months post-stroke.
• Diagnostic accuracy metrics (sensitivity, specificity) were calculated for depression and anxiety subscales.

Main Results:

• The HADS demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for depression (sensitivity 90.0%, specificity 92.2%) and anxiety (sensitivity 86.5%, specificity 94.9%) using a cut-off score of 7.
• Internal consistency was strong, with Cronbach's alpha values of 0.892 for depression and 0.815 for anxiety.
• Individual scale items correlated well with overall scale results, enhancing reliability.

Conclusions:

• The HADS is a valid and reliable tool for screening depression and anxiety in Polish post-stroke patients.
• A cut-off score of 7 for both the depression and anxiety subscales is recommended for optimal screening.
• These findings support the routine use of HADS in neurological care for stroke survivors.