Manifestations of mental slowness in the daily life of patients with stroke: A qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the consequences of mental slowness in the daily life of patients with stroke.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional survey semi-structured interviews were completed. Interviews were transcribed and coded by two independent reviewers. Qualitative analysis was done by means of the 'constant comparison method'.


METHODS
Three rehabilitation centres in the Netherlands.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 13 patients with stroke, suffering from mental slowness, was derived from December 2003 to May 2004.


METHODS
Interview descriptions of the everyday consequences of mental slowness.


RESULTS
Patients experienced many problems in daily life due to mental slowness. These could be divided into two main groups: (1) problems in cognitive functioning; (2) psychological and somatic complaints. In response to these problems, some patients mentioned the use of compensation strategies in order to reduce the demands on their information processing capacity.


CONCLUSIONS
Mental slowness in cognitive functioning affects a wide range of activities, causing emotional symptoms in many patients and stimulating the spontaneous use of compensation strategies in some patients.
Winkens
Ieke
I
IRv, Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands. i.winkens@irv.nl
Van Heugten
Caroline M
CM
Fasotti
Luciano
L
Duits
Annelien A
AA
Wade
Derick T
DT
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology