OBJECTIVES: To (1) examine the relationships between baseline demographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics and social role functioning (SRF) at 4 months after stroke, and (2) assess whether depression improvement is associated with 4-month SRF. DESIGN: We completed a secondary data analysis using data from a completed cohort study including people with stroke with or without depression. We used multiple linear regression to identify variables independently associated with 12-week SRF. SETTING: Hospital and patients' homes. The intervention was via phone calls. PARTICIPANTS: People with a new stroke recruited during the inpatient stay (N=371, depressed only n=176). All survived an ischemic stroke, were 18 years and older, spoke and understood English, owned a telephone, had no severe language or cognitive impairments, and were expected to live at least 6 months. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and depression improvement was defined by a 50% decrease in PHQ-9 scores from baseline to 12 weeks or a 12-week PHQ-9 score <10. SRF was measured with the social domain of the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale. RESULTS: Depression and comorbidities were found to be independently associated with 12-week SRF. Importantly, depression response (or depression improvement) was the only variable to independently predict SRF in the depressed-only group. CONCLUSIONS: Among stroke survivors with depression, improvement of that depression was independently associated with improved SRF. This is a reminder of the importance for rehabilitation providers to screen for and treat poststroke depression.
OBJECTIVES: To (1) examine the relationships between baseline demographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics and social role functioning (SRF) at 4 months after stroke, and (2) assess whether depression improvement is associated with 4-month SRF. DESIGN: We completed a secondary data analysis using data from a completed cohort study including people with stroke with or without depression. We used multiple linear regression to identify variables independently associated with 12-week SRF. SETTING: Hospital and patients' homes. The intervention was via phone calls. PARTICIPANTS: People with a new stroke recruited during the inpatient stay (N=371, depressed only n=176). All survived an ischemic stroke, were 18 years and older, spoke and understood English, owned a telephone, had no severe language or cognitive impairments, and were expected to live at least 6 months. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and depression improvement was defined by a 50% decrease in PHQ-9 scores from baseline to 12 weeks or a 12-week PHQ-9 score <10. SRF was measured with the social domain of the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale. RESULTS:Depression and comorbidities were found to be independently associated with 12-week SRF. Importantly, depression response (or depression improvement) was the only variable to independently predict SRF in the depressed-only group. CONCLUSIONS: Among stroke survivors with depression, improvement of that depression was independently associated with improved SRF. This is a reminder of the importance for rehabilitation providers to screen for and treat poststroke depression.
Authors: Altaf Saadi; Kigocha Okeng'o; Maijo R Biseko; Agness F Shayo; Theoflo N Mmbando; Sara J Grundy; Ai Xu; Robert A Parker; Leah Wibecan; Geetha Iyer; Peter M Onesmo; Boniphace N Kapina; Robert W Regenhardt; Farrah J Mateen Journal: Int J Stroke Date: 2018-04-20 Impact factor: 5.266