Predicting Depression After Ischemic Stroke
What is it about?
Despite the high frequency of depression in the first year following stroke, few studies have predicted risk of major depression after the acute and subacute stroke period. We tested the hypothesis that subsyndromal depressive symptoms during the acute and subacute stroke periods would predict the development of major depression during the chronic first-year period following stroke. The aim of this study was to identify, in the acute and subacute period, measures which would predict major depression during the first year after stroke.
Why is it important?
The MADRS and PHQ-9 in the acute and subacute phase of ischemic stroke can predict major depression during the chronic first-year period with ≧80% accuracy. The PHQ-9 score ≧ 9 or MADRS score ≧ 11 in the acute and subacute phase of ischemic stroke was associated with an increased risk of developing major depression in the chronic period of the first year following stroke. The self-administered PHQ-9 may be a beneficial tool to help clinicians to identify patients who are at increased risk of developing major depression during the first year after stroke.