Anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being 2 to 5 years poststroke.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to explore psychological well-being and the psychosocial situation in persons with stroke, 2 to 5 years after discharge from a specialized rehabilitation hospital.


METHODS
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; the 30-item General Health Questionnaire; and a questionnaire were mailed to 255 former patients.


RESULTS
A total of 64% answered (36% women), and the average age was 58 years. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale identified problems in 47% (anxiety in 36% and depression in 28%) and 30-item General Health Questionnaire in 54%. About half had experienced periods of anxiety, depression, or both since discharge. Most were satisfied with support by family/friends (88%), home ward (68%), and community therapy services (57%). Marital status was as in the general population.


CONCLUSIONS
Long after stroke, almost half of the investigated patients with stroke had psychiatric problems according to the questionnaires. This is higher than in the general population but is comparable with some other chronic, somatic populations in Norway.
Bergersen
Hilde
H
Department of Brain Injury, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Nesoddtangen, Norway. hilde.bergersen@sunnaas.no
Frøslie
Kathrine Frey
KF
Stibrant Sunnerhagen
Katharina
K
Schanke
Anne-Kristine
AK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012944:Social Support; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult