Depression Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Depression, including details on clinical depression, medication, symptoms, treatment, counselling, therapy.

Prevalence of depression and use of antidepressant medication at 5-years poststroke in the North East Melbourne Stroke Incidence Study.

Paul SL, Dewey HM, Sturm JW, Macdonell RA, Thrift AG

National Stroke Research Institute, Austin Health, Heidelberg Heights, Victoria, Australia. seana.paul@utas.edu.au

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There are few data on the prevalence or treatment of depression from unselected populations long-term poststroke. We assessed the prevalence of depression and antidepressant use at 5-years poststroke in an unselected stroke population. METHODS: Five-year survivors from a prospective community-based stroke incidence study were assessed for depression with the Irritability, Depression and Anxiety Scale. Medications indicated primarily for treatment of depression were recorded. RESULTS: At 5-years poststroke, 441 (45%) of 978 incident cases were alive (mean age=74+/-15 years, 49% female). Seventeen percent of those assessed were depressed. Twenty-two percent with depression were taking an antidepressant medication. Of those taking an antidepressant, 72% were not depressed. CONCLUSIONS: Although nearly one-fifth of survivors were depressed, few were taking antidepressants. Further exploration of this low level of treatment is warranted.

Published 31 October 2006 in Stroke, 37(11): 2854-5.
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