Objective: To determine frequency, determinants, and time course of poststroke depressive symptoms (DS) and their relationship with dementia.
Methods: Two hundred two consecutive stroke patients were prospectively evaluated for DS, followed up over a 3-year period. Patients with Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores of >/==" BORDER="0">7 were considered as having DS. The severity of the neurologic deficit, functional outcome, and dementia were quantified with the Orgogozo Scale, modified Rankin Scale, Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly, and an extensive battery of neuropsychological tests.
Results: DS were present in 43% of survivors after 6 months, 36% after 12 months, 24% after 24 months, and 18% after 36 months. The severity of the neurologic deficit at admission was the only independent predictor of DS at month 6. DS at month 6 were more frequent in patients with previous depression, dementia, and right superficial lesions. Younger age and right superficial lesions were the two variables independently associated with the presence of DS at month 36. The time course of the various DS differed, sadness remaining frequent 3 years after stroke (50%), whereas slowness, psychic slowness, lack of energy, and concentration difficulties remained frequent at month 36 in patients with dementia.
Conclusion: DS are frequent after stroke. Their time course varies and depends on the cognitive status; this variation contributes to differences among previous studies on poststroke depression.