title: Older adult stroke survivors discussing poststroke depressive symptoms with a healthcare provider: a preliminary analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to examine the relationship between the poststroke depressive symptoms, older adult stroke survivors' perceptions of the depressive symptoms, and the congruence with an informal caregiver about the presence of depressive symptoms, and comfort talking to the health care provider with whether or not older stroke survivors discussed their depressive symptoms with a health care provider.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study where 44 caregiver/older adult stroke survivor dyads completed questionnaires including the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Symptom Perception Questionnaire, and reporting of depressive symptoms to the health care provider via one time interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven percent (n = 16) of all older stroke survivors reported depressive symptoms to their health care provider. Of the stroke survivors who had high levels of depressive symptoms (CESD ≥ 16; n = 11), seven reported the depressive symptoms to their health care provider. Identifying the symptoms as possible depression and attributing the cause of the depressive symptoms to the stroke were related to stroke survivors reporting the depressive symptoms to a health care provider.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High functioning, older stroke survivors may benefit from strategies to help them identify when they experience depressive symptoms, in order to be able to play an active role in their recovery by appropriately discussing their symptoms with a health care provider.
authors.affiliation: Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. klinedinst@son.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: N Jennifer
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Klinedinst
authors.forename: Patricia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Sandra B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Dunbar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation