[Psychiatric symptoms before and subsequent to acute CVA]

The psychiatrist is very seldom faced with the acute or prolonged care of stroke victims. This may be surprising, since it is generally accepted that much of the disability resulting from strokes is mental rather than physical. Psychological influences may even be paramount in determining what progress is made. This paper aims to give a review of those aspects of symptomatology and therapy of stroke patients that are particularly pertinent to the psychiatrist.