Depression after stroke: results of the FINNSTROKE Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Depression is a common complication following stroke, affecting both patients and their caregivers.
• The impact of post-hospital discharge interventional programs on depression rates in stroke survivors and their families is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare depression incidence and severity in stroke patients and their caregivers at 3 and 12 months post-stroke.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of interventional programs (outpatient rehabilitation and Finnish Heart Association support) in reducing depression rates.

Main Methods:

• A population-based stroke register in Finland identified 594 first-ever strokes over 2 years.
• Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) assessed depression in 321 survivors and 195 caregivers at 3 months, and 311 survivors and 184 caregivers at 12 months.
• Comparison was made between districts with and without interventional programs.

Main Results:

• Districts with active programs showed lower patient depression rates (41% at 3 months, 42% at 12 months) compared to control districts (54% at 3 months, 55% at 12 months).
• Caregiver depression rates did not differ significantly between intervention and control districts at 3 or 12 months.
• However, severe caregiver depression was significantly higher in districts without active programs at 12 months.

Conclusions:

• Depression is prevalent among stroke survivors and caregivers, persisting at 1-year follow-up.
• Outpatient rehabilitation and local support programs appear effective in reducing depression rates in stroke patients.
• Further investigation into caregiver support within these programs may be warranted.