Abstract

Purpose: - The need to identify risk factors for post-stroke depression was examined in this study.

Relevance: Identifying the risk factors for post-stroke depression (PSD) helps to stratify the patients according to risk level and target appropriate intervention to enhance recovery.       .

Participants/Subjects: Fifty patients (22 females and 28 males) at the out-patient unit of Physiotherapy Department, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu with cerebrovascular accident (CVA) who gave their informed consent were randomly selected from the patients that had current appointments, and met the selection criteria,. Their age range and mean age were 26 – 66 years, and 54.76 ± 8.79 years, respectively

Method: - This study utilized ex-post facto research design. Patients were assessed with Becks Depression Inventory (BDI), the Mini Mental Status Examination tool (for cognition), and Modified Motor Assessment Scale (for motor function). The tests were performed independently by the patients except otherwise stated, and scored on a scale of 0-6. The psychiatrist would request them to withdraw from the test when they become emotionally labile. Data were analyzed using Z-test for proportional significance and Chi-square test to determine relationship between variables. The odds ratio was calculated as the natural parameter in the conditional likelihood of the two-group, binomial-response design with alpha set at 0.05.

Results: - Analysis of the results identified age as a risk factor for depression in stroke patients (χ² = 4.92, df = 1, p = 0.026548, ɸ = +0.31, ɸ² = 0.1), but little or no association was established between PSD and other socio-demographic or anatomic/clinical variables (p>0.05).

Conclusions: The odds of responding to stroke with depression are higher in young adults than any other age group.

Implications: The young adults should be targeted at the onset of stroke, as the age group that is most vulnerable or at the greatest risk for PSD which can impede rehabilitation