Prevalence and functional impact of psychiatric comorbidities in adult poststroke patients: A cross-sectional study from a rural tertiary care hospital in India

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide. Beyond physical impairment, psychiatric co-morbidities such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive disturbances are increasingly recognized as major determinants of quality of life and functional recovery. However, limited data are available from rural Indian populations. Aim: To assess the prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidities in adult poststroke patients and examine their relationship with functional outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional, hospital-based study was conducted among 73 adult poststroke patients attending the Psychiatry and Neurology Departments at Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Wardha. Data were collected using a socio-demographic pro forma, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the Present State Examination, and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and correlation analyses were performed using SPSS version 28. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 42.3 ± 12.1 years, with a male predominance (58.9%). The most common psychiatric co-morbidities were depressive mood (87.7%), anxiety (63.0%), cognitive difficulties (68.5%), and appetite loss (72.6%). Suicidal ideation was present in 27.4% of patients. Hypertension (65.8%) was the most frequent medical comorbidity. Stroke severity was predominantly moderate (63.0%). No significant correlation was found between overall psychiatric symptom severity (BPRS) and stroke severity (NIHSS) (ρ = –0.037, P = 0.76). Conclusion: Psychiatric co-morbidities are highly prevalent in poststroke patients and occur largely independent of stroke severity. These findings highlight the importance of routine psychiatric screening and timely intervention as an integral component of stroke rehabilitation to improve the long-term outcomes.