Depression goes untreated after a stroke

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.