Prevalence of depression and use of antidepressant medication at 5-years poststroke in the North East Melbourne Stroke Incidence Study.
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.
Paul
Seana L
SL
National Stroke Research Institute, Austin Health, Heidelberg Heights, Victoria, Australia. seana.paul@utas.edu.au
Dewey
Helen M
HM
Sturm
Jonathan W
JW
Macdonell
Richard A L
RA
Thrift
Amanda G
AG
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
D000928:Antidepressive Agents