Anxiety and depression in the first six months after stroke. A longitudinal multicentre study

Abstract

Purpose. To document the prevalence, severity and time course of anxiety and depression in stroke rehabilitation patients in four European countries.

Method. At two, four and six months post-stroke, the prevalence and severity of anxiety and depression were determined in 532 consecutively recruited patients, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Time course of prevalence and severity was examined, using Cochran-Q and Friedman-tests, respectively. We identified whether the numbers of anxious/depressed patients at each time point comprised the same individuals.

Keywords

• Anxiety
• depression
• first
• months
• after
• stroke
• longitudinal
• multicentre
• study