The role of activity restriction in poststroke depressive symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about the determinants of poststroke depression. The Activity Restriction Model of Depressed Affect (ARMDA) may be helpful in understanding poststroke depression but has never been tested in that context. The goal of this study was to examine the relation between activity restriction and depressive symptoms in stroke survivors during the period following discharge from the hospital.


METHODS
Participants (N = 197) were assessed on three occasions: (1) time 1 (T1), 3 weeks following discharge; (2) time 2 (T2), 3 months after discharge; and (3) time 3 (T3), 6 months after discharge.


RESULTS
Although both stroke severity and activity restriction were significantly related to depressive symptoms, the relation between stroke severity and depression was no longer significant after controlling for activity restriction. Moreover, restrictions in daily activities and social roles were both related to depressive symptoms, but these relations were found to vary during the course of the period following discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the ARMDA and have practical implications for the prevention of poststroke depression.
Landreville
Philippe
P
School of Psychology, Université Lava and Research Center, Centre hospitalier affilié universitarire de Québec, Québec, Canada. philippe.landreville@psy.ulaval.ca
Desrosiers
Johanne
J
Vincent
Claude
C
Verreault
René
R
Boudreault
Véronique
V
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation