Psychiatric morbidity in first time stroke patients in Hong Kong: a pilot study in a rehabilitation unit.
OBJECTIVE
There is a paucity of data on post-stroke psychiatric morbidity in Chinese populations. We examined the frequency of post-stroke psychiatric morbidity in Chinese first time stroke patients, including depressive and anxiety disorders, mania, and psychosis.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-seven patients following their first stroke, who were consecutively admitted to a rehabilitation unit, participated in this prospective, cross-sectional study. All subjects were interviewed by a qualified psychiatrist using the SCID-DSM-III-R. Subjects' cognitive function, neurological status, and level of functioning were also measured. Twenty-five (92.6%) of the subjects with the diagnosis of depression were followed up 6.0 +/- 3.9 months after the initial assessment.


RESULTS
The frequency of all depressive disorders was 17.2%. Major depressive episodes, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, dysthymia, and generalized anxiety disorder were diagnosed in 7.6%, 8.2%, 1.3% and 0.6% of the subjects, respectively. No cases of other anxiety disorders, mania or psychosis were found. The majority of depressed subjects were in remission at the follow-up assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
The low morbidity of affective disorders and their relatively favourable short-term outcome in Chinese first time stroke patients warrants further investigation.
Tang
Wai-kwong
WK
Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 11/F, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China. tangwk@cuhk.edu.hk
Ungvari
Gabor S
GS
Chiu
Helen F K
HF
Sze
Kai-hoi
KH
Woo
Jean
J
Kay
Richard
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D020521:Stroke / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation