Proposing a new stroke-specific screening tool for depression: Examination of construct validity and reliability

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Identifying post-stroke depression (PSD) is crucial for patient recovery.
• Existing screening tools may not be optimal for the stroke population.
• A validated, context-specific tool is needed for accurate PSD assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and examine the construct validity and reliability of a new stroke-specific screening tool for PSD.
• To evaluate the HRQOLISP-E's performance in recent stroke survivors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized existing data from recent stroke survivors (≤1 month).
• Administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) and the 26-item Health Related Quality of Life in Stroke Patients (HRQOLISP-26).
• Identified 6 psychoemotional items from HRQOLISP-26 (HRQOLISP-E) and assessed its validity and reliability against HADS-D, age, gender, and stroke severity.

Main Results:

• The HRQOLISP-E showed significant correlations with the HADS-D (total score r=-0.53, p<0.001).
• HRQOLISP-E scores correlated with age and stroke severity, indicating known group validity.
• The HRQOLISP-E demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.939) and split-half reliability (0.899), outperforming HADS-D.

Conclusions:

• The HRQOLISP-E shows preliminary support as a valid and reliable screening tool for PSD in stroke survivors.
• Further research is recommended to compare HRQOLISP-E against clinical diagnostic criteria (e.g., ICD-10).
• This tool could aid in the early identification and management of depression post-stroke.