Cognition and depression after stroke : course and interaction

This research studied depressive complaints and cognition after a stroke, as well as their course in time and interaction with each other. A cohort of 190 patients was followed during a year and examined for depression after 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months; another cohort of 194 people was followed during two years and underwent full neuropsychological examination after 1, 6, 12 and 24 months. Depressive complaints after a stroke often turned out to be connected to the stroke. In half of the cases the depression occurred in the first three months after the stroke, and one third of these persons recovered within a few weeks. In more serious cases, complaints can recur of become chronic. Patients with executive function disorders (disorders in behaviour, emotion and thinking) have a worse prognosis.