Depression goes untreated after a stroke
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-09-29 15:13
NEW YORK - Depression is common among long-term stroke survivors, but few
receive treatment for this condition, according to a new report.
Depression after a stroke has been linked to reduced quality of life and
death, but relatively little is known regarding its prevalence or treatment,
lead author Seana L. Paul, from the National Stroke Research Institute in
Victoria, Australia, and colleagues note in the journal Stroke.
Their analysis included data on 441 patients who were 5-year stroke
survivors. Roughly half of the survivors were female and the average age was 74
years. Depression was assessed in 289 of the subjects using a standard
questionnaire-based test.
The investigators identified depression in 17 percent of the group. Just 22
percent of depressed patients were taking an antidepressant medication.
Twenty-eight percent of patients taking antidepressants still showed evidence
of depression. Conversely, "The majority of (patients) taking antidepressant
medication were not depressed," Paul said in a statement. "This provides
indirect evidence that antidepressants are effective in treating depression in
stroke patients."
It's known that stroke survivors who are not depressed live longer and have
higher-quality lives than those who are depressed, the researcher pointed out.
"Consequently, educating physicians, stroke survivors and their families about
the risk of depression after stroke may increase identification of depression
and lead to improved treatment."
SOURCE: Stroke, online September 28, 2006.
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