Prevalence of Post-stroke Emotional Disorders in Saudi Arabia

The occurrence of Post-Stroke Anxiety (PSA) and Post-Stroke Depression (PSD) has been linkedto cognitive impairment and reductions in functional recovery and social activity. This study examined the prevalence of post-stroke anxiety and post-stroke depression in one hundred (100) Saudi stroke patients (76 men, mean age 60.53 years) in the rehabilitation wards or outpatient clinics at three Saudi medical facilities: King Abdulaziz Medical City, Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City and King Fahad Medical City. An Arabic version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess anxiety and depression. The Barthel Index was used to assess independence in personal day-to-day activities. The findings of subgroups confirmed the presence of PSA in 36% of participants (mean score 7.8 SD= 5.09). The prevalence of PSA was found to be significantly affectedby age (. 60 and . 61 years), level of education (literate and illiterate) and the length of time elapsed since the stroke (. 6 and . 7 months). Further, PSD was identified in 44% of participants (mean score 7.87 SD= 4.77). The results from the post-hoc analysis using the Mann-Whitney test for PSD indicated that differences in level of education and time since stroke between subgroups showed significant effects, whereas other characteristics (gender, treatment site, side of weakness) did not. There was a significantnegative correlation between scores on the Barthel Index and the prevalence of anxiety and depression. Seventy patients were reassessed after three months, of whom13 (18.6%) were found to suffer from emotional disorders. The results of the Mann-Whitney test showed significant differences in PSA and PSD prevalence between subgroups according to gender (male and female) and level of education (literate and illiterate).