title: [Depression and stroke: an up-to-date review].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Post Stroke Depression (PSD) and to evaluate treatment options.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic search using Medline electronic database limited to studies published from year 2000 to 2004, was carried out. Manual search was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depression after stroke is a common event. The same, stroke incidence in depressed patients is more frequent than by chance. Risk of underdiagnosing a patient with former stroke is high. Disability after stroke is frequent, with compromission of quality of life of patients and relatives. Antidepressants are efficacious in PSD treatment, even if complete remission is difficult to obtain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is enough evidence concerning epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical and therapy to justify psychiatrists' interest on relationship between stroke and depression.
authors.affiliation: DSSAeP, Sezione di Psichiatria, Universittà di Pavia, Pavia. pierluigi.politi@unipv.it
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sciarini
authors.forename: Giovanni Segagni
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lusignani
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Micieli
mesh_terms: D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*