Risk factors for post-stroke depression in patients with mild and moderate strokes

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common complication following cerebrovascular accidents.
• Identifying risk factors for PSD is crucial for timely intervention, especially in patients with mild to moderate strokes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate potential risk factors for post-stroke depression (PSD) in patients experiencing mild and moderate acute strokes.
• To identify independent predictors of depression in this specific patient population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 129 patients with mild and moderate acute strokes.
• Patients were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to categorize them into depressed and non-depressed groups.
• Clinical characteristics, activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive function, sleep quality, and life events were evaluated using various scales.

Main Results:

• Patients with PSD exhibited higher stroke frequency, more severe stroke symptoms, and poorer performance in ADL, cognitive function, and sleep quality.
• Lower interest in pleasurable activities, increased negative life events, and reduced social support utilization were also associated with PSD.
• The Negative Life Event Scale (LES) score was a significant and independent predictor of depression in stroke patients.

Conclusions:

• Negative life events are independently associated with the incidence of depression in patients with mild and moderate acute strokes.
• Negative life events may mediate the impact of other depression predictors, including stroke history, reduced ADL, and social support utilization.
• Targeting negative life events could be a key strategy in managing and preventing post-stroke depression.