Post-stroke Depression: Psychological and Biochemical Interpretations. In: von Steinbüchel N, von Cramon DY, Pöppel E, editors. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 1992. pp. 215-25. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-77067-8_25]

Relation of lesion location to verbal and nonverbal mood measures in stroke patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relation between poststroke depression and lesion location, avoiding previous methodological shortcomings. In particular, we intended to determine whether patients with left frontal lesions showed the highest depression scores.

METHODS

Patients in the study, categorized on the basis of lesion location, included 149 stroke patients with lesions located in the anterior, central, or posterior regions of the right or left hemisphere. Verbal and nonverbal mood measures as well as the Hamilton Depression Scale Overall Score were the dependent measures of our investigation. Furthermore, the number of patients who could not be assessed or could be evaluated only with the nonverbal mood measure due to the presence of severe language disorders was recorded.

RESULTS

No significant relation was observed between depressed mood and lesion location. Approximately one quarter of the left brain-damaged patients were partially or totally excluded from the study because of severe language disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data appeared to show that when methodological pitfalls and selection bias are carefully controlled, left frontal lesions are not a major determinant of poststroke depression.

Poststroke depression: prevalence, course, and associated factors

Despite the considerable amount of research that has been undertaken on poststroke depression, a review of the literature demonstrates that there are many inconclusive findings in the area. In particular, the causes and course of the disorder remain to be firmly established. While studies of prevalence differ with respect to the nature and timing of their assessment procedures, most conclude that poststroke depression has a negative impact on the rehabilitation of the stroke patient. Very little research is available on te relationship between poststroke depression and care-giver burden. However, recent studies have adopted more rigorous methodological procedures, allowing some insights into the complex mixture of factors which determine the occurrence of poststroke depression.