title: Anxiety and depression in the first six months after stroke. A longitudinal multicentre study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the prevalence, severity and time course of anxiety and depression in stroke rehabilitation patients in four European countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  At two, four and six months post-stroke, the prevalence and severity of anxiety and depression were determined in 532 consecutively recruited patients, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Time course of prevalence and severity was examined, using Cochran-Q and Friedman-tests, respectively. We identified whether the numbers of anxious/depressed patients at each time point comprised the same individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of anxiety ranged between 22% and 25%; depression between 24% and 30%. Median severity ranged between 4 and 5. No significant differences between centres occurred (p > 0.05). Prevalence of both disorders was not significantly different over time. Severity of anxiety decreased between four and six months; severity of depression remained stable. About 40% of the patients with initial anxiety remained anxious at six months. Some 11% and 7% of those initially not anxious became anxious at four or six months after stroke, respectively. Depression showed a similar pattern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite differences in patient profiles and intensity of rehabilitation, no significant differences occurred between centres in prevalence and severity of both disorders. Anxiety was almost as common as depression and additional patients became anxious/depressed at each time point.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. Liesbet.Dewit@faber.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Liesbet
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Wit
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Putman
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baert
authors.forename: Nadina Berrice
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angst
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beyens
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bogaerts
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brinkmann
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Connell
authors.forename: Eddy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dejaeger
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Weerdt
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jenni
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaske
authors.forename: Arnost
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Komarek
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lesaffre
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leys
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Louckx
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schuback
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schupp
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feys
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors