Depression is preventing around one in seven stroke patients from making a good physical recovery, a new study suggests.
The impact of depression on recovery from stroke has been largely underestimated and patients' psychological wellbeing should be monitored much more closely, according to the researchers from the University of Leeds. Around a third of people experience depression after a stroke. Doctors often assume that this downturn in mood is to be expected and that it will be short-lived. However, a study of over 400 stroke survivors revealed that in around 15% of patients, this downturn in mood can be severe and last for several months. In addition, one year after the stroke, patients with prolonged depression were more likely to have problems with speech and movement. Those with persistently poor mood were still struggling with simple tasks such as walking upstairs or holding a conversation. Yet the psychological wellbeing of stroke survivors is seldom monitored.
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