L’AVC can be caused by a sudden cessation of blood circulation inside the brain which is called an ischemic stroke, but also by the occurrence of an intracerebral hemorrhage which corresponds to an Hemorrhagic stroke, explains Health Insurance. Among the after-effects left by a stroke, we find: motor after-effects (facial paralysistremors, etc.), disorders of the senses and understanding (speech or writing disorders, vision problems, etc.) but also psychological after-effects (mood disorders, depression, anxiety). These side effects vary depending on the type of stroke, its location, the extent of the lesions, the speed of medical treatment and the effectiveness of rehabilitation.
In a recent study published in review The Lancet Regional Health-Europe, researchers from King’s College London, found that depression would occur in 60% of people who had a stroke.
Depression: a common psychological pathology after a stroke
To carry out their study, the scientists used information from the South London Stroke Register (population-based cohort study). They studied the data of 3,864 people who had been victims of stroke, 55.4% of whom were men, in order to determine whether they had suffered from depression during the years following their stroke. The researchers then compared the different types of depression that the participants had to face after their stroke, that is to say: mild or severe depression, but also early or late.
After analyzing the results, the researchers realized that 60% of people who had a stroke suffered from depression in the 18 years that followed. Indeed, 2,295 patients suffered from depression at some point during follow-up, while 1,569 did not develop depressive signs. Furthermore, according to them, 90% of cases of depression occur within five years of having a stroke, indicating that this is a key period for healthcare intervention. “Depression is common among stroke survivors, but our study shows it persists much longer than previously thought”declares professor at King’s College London, Yanzhong Wang in a press release.
How to limit the risk of depression after a stroke?
According to the study’s lead author, Lu Liu, the quality of life of stroke survivors is key to combating depression. Indeed, a stroke very often results in patients, “a reduction in the brain, disruptions in their social life, but also a reduction in physical abilities and inflammatory disorders” , he explains. These are factors that have been observed in depressed patients after a stroke. That is why, Researchers consider that certain preventive measures can be taken to combat the risk of depression in people who have had a stroke.
Sources :
- Natural history of depression up to 18 years after stroke: a population-based South London Stroke Register study – The Lancet Regional Health-Europe – 25 Mars 2024
- More must be done for depressed stroke survivors as incidence climbs, say researchers – Medical X press
- Stroke and TIA: symptoms, diagnosis and progress – Health Insurance
