title: Patterns of change in depression after stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide estimates of change in depressive symptoms and determine how changes in depressive symptom influence recovery of functional status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven inpatient medical rehabilitation facilities located across the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred forty-four persons with a first-time stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  General linear regression model estimates assessed associations between depressive symptom change and functional status 3 and 12 months after discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of persons with stroke were aged 75 and older, white, female, and married. The most prevalent stroke type was ischemic. For participants without depression at discharge, those who reported fewer depressive symptoms 12 months after stroke than before had an adjusted functional status score of 108.2, whereas those with more symptoms had an adjusted functional status score of 104.6. For participants who were depressed at discharge, those who reported fewer depressive symptoms 12 months after stroke than before had an adjusted functional status score of 100.3, whereas those with more symptoms had an adjusted functional status score of 88.0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tracking depressive symptom change in the hospital and after discharge is clinically relevant and is an important component of patient care and recovery of functional status.
authors.affiliation: Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA. gostir@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Glenn V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Ostir
authors.forename: Ivonne-M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Berges
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ottenbacher
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ottenbacher
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology