[Depression after cerebrovascular injury. Review and differentiation from other psychiatric complications].

In spite of the high incidence and prevalence of psychiatric complications after cerebrovascular injury few results have remained uncontradicted so far. This article focuses on the variety of psychiatric disorders after stroke reviewing recent literature and concentrating in particular on Post-stroke Depression. The prevalence of depressive disorders following stroke is assessed between 20 and 50%. Serious consequences for post-stroke depressed subjects are their increased mortality, poor rehabilitation outcome and long-term affected quality of life. Nevertheless, depressive disorders following stroke usually remain untreated. To this date the effectiveness of only a few drugs has been studied in controlled clinical trials (Nortriptylin, Citalopram, Imipramin, Mianserin). Besides describing clinical presentation, epidemiology, pathogenesis and consequences of post-stroke depressive disorders for the patient different authors' statements are listed and critically commented. Finally recommendations concerning therapeutic intervention are mentioned.