1. STROKE AND DEPRESSION DOES THE ETIOLOGY COUNT. PIRES-BARATA, S
STROKE AND DEPRESSION DOES THE ETIOLOGY COUNT? PIRES-BARATA, S., HENRIQUES, I. OUTPATIENT STROKE CLINIC; HOSPITAL DO ESPÍRITO SANTO, ÉVORA, PORTUGAL
INTRODUCTION
Depressive symptoms might appear in the context of an emotional
adjustment to stroke occurrence in previously independent
persons. Depression is a prevalent pathology after stroke but the
relationship between stroke aetiology and depression is not well
understood.
We studied the association between stroke aetiology (ischemic or
Hemorrhagic) and the occurrence of depressive symptomatology
And looked for any prevalent depressive symptom.
RESULTS
Depressive symptoms were present in 23% of hemorrhagic stroke
patients and in 36% of ischemic stroke patients. Lost of
interest in diary activities or life in general was present in 33%
of the ischemic stroke patients and in 17% of the hemorrhagic stroke
patients. Hemorrhagic stroke patients showed more depressive
symptoms such as sleep disorders or appetite disorders when
compared with the ischemic stroke patients.
METHODS
We interviewed 22 first ever stroke patients.
We used the DSM-IV criteria for Major Depression, that
includes symptoms such as lost of interest in diary activities
or life in general, depressive humour, appetite disorders,
sleep disorders, psychomotor disorders, tiredness,
guilty feelings, thought or concentration disorders, thought of
death. Patients were observed in a single interview 2 to 12 months
after stroke. Age varies between 36 and 78 years. We excluded
patients with global aphasia, previous stroke and others that were
also unable to perform the interview. All patients were studied with
a protocol that includes at least one CT-scan or MRI.
DISCUSSION
In our sample, ischemic stroke patients showed more depressive
symptomatology compared to hemorrhagic stroke patients. Lost
in diary activities or life in general was the most prevalent
depressive symptom both in hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke
patients.
In future studies, we expect to apply measure rates in order
to investigate what diary activities do these patients loose
interest in. Since depression interferes with the rehabilitation
process, it is very important to detect, as soon as possible,
depressive symptoms, in order to improve care in stroke patients.