title: Prevalence of depression and use of antidepressant medication at 5-years poststroke in the North East Melbourne Stroke Incidence Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are few data on the prevalence or treatment of depression from unselected populations long-term poststroke. We assessed the prevalence of depression and antidepressant use at 5-years poststroke in an unselected stroke population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five-year survivors from a prospective community-based stroke incidence study were assessed for depression with the Irritability, Depression and Anxiety Scale. Medications indicated primarily for treatment of depression were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 5-years poststroke, 441 (45%) of 978 incident cases were alive (mean age=74+/-15 years, 49% female). Seventeen percent of those assessed were depressed. Twenty-two percent with depression were taking an antidepressant medication. Of those taking an antidepressant, 72% were not depressed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although nearly one-fifth of survivors were depressed, few were taking antidepressants. Further exploration of this low level of treatment is warranted.
authors.affiliation: National Stroke Research Institute, Austin Health, Heidelberg Heights, Victoria, Australia. seana.paul@utas.edu.au
authors.forename: Seana L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Helen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Dewey
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sturm
authors.forename: Richard A L
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Macdonell
authors.forename: Amanda G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Thrift
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents