Prevalence Of Post Stroke Depression In A Teritiiary Care Hospital

Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death and post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most frequent psychiatric complication. PSD impacts significantly on recovery and quality of life and is dependent on factors including age, gender and brain damage as a result of stroke. Identifying such risk factors is vital in order to enhance post-stroke management. The aim of this research was to estimate the prevalence of depression among stroke survivors and rate its severity with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the Aphasic Depression Rating Scale (ADR). It further helps to determine the types of stroke that were most likely to result in depression based on different risk factors. A six-month observational study was performed among 100 stroke survivors (80 non-aphasic and 20 aphasic) admitted to the neurology department of a tertiary care hospital. Post-stroke depression in participants in the age group of 18 to 80 years was measured using the HAM-D and ADR scales. Informed consent was given by all participants. Depression was common in all age groups, especially over 60 years. Men were more likely to be affected than women, where 63% of males and 37% of females were depressed on the HAM-D scale and 68.4% of males and 31.6% of females on the ADR scale. Severity of depression was from mild to very severe. Age, gender, stroke etiology, smoking, alcohol consumption, functional impairment, and socio-economic status were the important determinants. PSD was more frequent among ischemic stroke patients, left-sided strokes, aphasia, and rural residents. Given the strong association between depression and poor recovery outcomes, prioritizing both physical and psychological health is essential in post-stroke care.