Pre-morbid personality and depression following stroke.
BACKGROUND
The role of individual differences, including pre-morbid personality, in the development of post-stroke depression, has received relatively little attention. We undertook a cross-sectional study to investigate the relationship between pre-morbid personality and other individual differences, and depression following acute stroke.


METHODS
We studied 61 consecutive patients admitted to a dedicated stroke inpatient unit. DSM-IV depressive diagnoses were ascertained using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and depressive symptoms were ascertained on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Informant-rated personality scores were obtained on the full 240-item Neuroticism, Extraversion and Openness Personality Inventory--Revised. Adaptive function was measured on the Modified Barthel Index and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale. Cognitive function was assessed on the Mini-mental State Examination.


RESULTS
An increased risk of post-stroke depression was conferred by both pre-morbid neuroticism [odds ratio (OR) 3.69; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.25-10.92] and a past history of mental disorder (OR 10.26; 95% CI 3.02-34.86). There was no significant relationship demonstrated between lesion location and post-stroke depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Informant-rated pre-morbid neuroticism and a past history of mental disorder were important predictors of depression following stroke. Stroke side was not significantly related to risk of depressive symptoms following stroke.
Storor
David L
DL
Byrne
Gerard J A
GJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011793:Queensland; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*