title: Depression is an independent determinant of life satisfaction early after stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Life satisfaction is reduced in stroke patients. However, as a rule, rehabilitation goals are not aimed at life satisfaction, but at activities and participation. In order to optimize life satisfaction in stroke patients, rehabilitation should take into account the determinants of life satisfaction. The aim of this study was therefore to determine what factors are independent determinants of life satisfaction in a large group of patients early after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stroke-surviving patients were examined by a specialized nurse 6 weeks after discharge from hospital or rehabilitation setting. A standardized history and several screening lists, including the Lisat-9, were completed. Step-wise regression was used to identify independent determinants of life satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 284 stroke-surviving patients were included in the study. Of these, 117 answered all of the Lisat-9 questions. Most patients (66.5%) rated their life as a whole as "satisfying" or "very satisfying". More depressive symptoms were independently associated with lower life satisfaction (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most stroke-surviving patients are satisfied with their life early after a stroke. The score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression items is independently associated with life satisfaction. Physicians should therefore pay close attention to the mood of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation medicine, Rijnlands rehabilitation centre, 2333AL Leiden, The Netherlands. dmoosterveer@hotmail.com, dmo@rrc.nl.
authors.forename: Daniëlla M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Oosterveer
authors.forename: Radha Rambaran
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Mishre
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Oort
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bodde
authors.forename: Leo A M
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Aerden
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*