Psychological associations with emotionalism after stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Psychology

Background:

• Emotionalism is a common condition observed in stroke survivors.
• Understanding the psychological underpinnings of emotionalism is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the psychological associations with emotionalism in stroke survivors.
• To explore the relationship between emotionalism and other psychiatric syndromes.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 448 stroke survivors from a randomized trial of psychological treatment were assessed.
• Data on emotionalism and other psychiatric syndromes were collected 1 month post-stroke.

Main Results:

• Emotionalism was present in 21.5% of stroke survivors.
• Emotionalism was significantly associated with clinically significant mood disorders (38% vs 18%).
• Irritability and ideas of reference were independently associated with emotionalism, even after accounting for depression.

Conclusions:

• Emotionalism in stroke survivors is linked to various psychological issues, including mood disorders.
• These findings support a model of emotionalism as a disorder of emotional control.
• Understanding these associations may elucidate the socially disabling effects of emotionalism post-stroke.