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Cerebral microbleeds and suicidality in stroke

Wai Kwong Tang1, Yang Kun Chen, Hua Jun Liang

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. tangwk@cuhk.edu.hk

Psychosomatics
|August 21, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are linked to suicidality in stroke survivors. Lobar CMBs, specifically, were found to be independent predictors of suicidal ideation (SI) in this patient group.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Psychiatry
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are frequently observed in individuals who have experienced a stroke.
  • The clinical implications of CMBs concerning the development of suicidal ideation (SI) post-stroke remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • This study aimed to investigate the association between CMBs and SI in patients who have had an ischemic stroke.
  • The primary objective was to determine the relationship between the presence and location of CMBs and the occurrence of SI.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 367 acute ischemic stroke patients was recruited from a university-affiliated hospital in Hong Kong.
  • Suicidality was assessed using the geriatric mental state examination at three months post-stroke.
  • Cerebral microbleeds were identified and localized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Main Results:

  • Patients experiencing SI were significantly more likely to have CMBs in any brain region compared to those without SI (36.6% vs. 20.2%).
  • Specifically, lobar (29.3% vs. 13.5%) and thalamic CMBs (19.5% vs. 7.5%) were more prevalent in the SI group.
  • The presence of CMBs (OR 2.5) and lobar CMBs (OR 2.6) independently predicted SI in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest a potential role for lobar cerebral microbleeds in the development of suicidal ideation among stroke survivors.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of CMBs in the pathogenesis of SI following stroke.

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