Poststroke depression: importance of its detection and treatment.
BACKGROUND
Poststroke depression (PSD) is a complication that occurs in up to 30% of the patients who have had a stroke. Its development is associated with a poor functional prognosis and a negative impact on the patient's quality of life.


METHODS
In the present review, we summarize the diagnostic criteria, prevalence, predisposing factors, the lesion site, the impact of PSD on the clinical evolution of the patient, the current therapeutic approaches and even the relationship between depression and cerebrovascular disease.


RESULTS
There are differences in relation to prevalence, essentially due to the use of different diagnostic criteria. Also, there have been few studies focusing on the search for factors that are predictive of PSD (age, female sex, single vascular lesion independent of site) and the reluctance to initiate preventive treatments to minimize the effects on the clinical evolution of the patients. There have been several advances with respect to the treatment of PSD. It seems that treatments show improvement trends, but today there is not enough evidence to recommend a preventive therapy for depression in any stroke patient.


CONCLUSIONS
We consider that the prevalence of PSD is relevant and that the risk factors as well as the early diagnosis are important for the best management and prognosis of stroke patients. Further studies are needed in this field in order to reduce PSD.
Gabaldón
Laura
L
Department of Neurology, University Hospital La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Fuentes
Blanca
B
Frank-García
Ana
A
Díez-Tejedor
Exuperio
E
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents