Anxiety and depressive symptoms in acute ischemic stroke

Inadequate attention is being paid to the anxiety and depressive symptoms in acute stroke, although these problems are known to influence the patients' neurological outcome. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the acute stage of ischemic stroke and to identify the factors associated with such problems. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in 40 patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted during a period of one month. Statistical analyses were performed by the SigmaStat (Version 2.0) software. Study results showed 55% of study patients to suffer from depressive symptoms and 40% from both anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms. There was a correlation of depressive symptoms (HADS-D score) with MMSE (p < 0.001), age (p = 0.003) and BI (p < 0.001), and of anxiety symptoms (HADS-A score) with MMSE (p < 0.001) and BI (p = 0.01). There was no significant association of HADS-A and HADS-D score with other patient characteristics. In conclusion, depressive symptoms were more frequent in the acute stage ofischemic stroke. Study patients had a high prevalence of both groups of symptoms. Therefore, attention should be paid to the anxiety and depressive symptoms in stroke units and try to relieve the patients' emotional stress and personal suffering, which could improve their neurological outcome.