Depression and anxiety in stroke patients: a hospital based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Depression and anxiety are major contributors of global health burden of disease and important mental health condition in Nepal being very highly prevalent, co–morbid and associated with psychosocial health. The present study was undertaken to assess status of depression and anxiety among patients with stroke.

Materials and methods: This was a cross–sectional study conducted on stroke patients (n=31) visiting Neuro–medicine outpatient department of National Institute of Neurological and Allied Sciences from July to September 2017. A semi–structured proforma was used to collect sociodemographic information and stroke type while Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to measure depression and anxiety. Descriptive statistics were obtained for all the variables and bivariate analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with depression and anxiety. All the analysis were performed using IBM–SPSS version 20.

Results: Majority of the participants were males (22, 71.0%), mature adults aged 30 to 65 years (21, 67.7%), housewives (10, 32.3%), Hindu (25, 80.6%), out of valley (18, 58.1%) and had education below secondary level or under SLC (17, 54.8%). Almost all of them had ischemic stroke (30, 96.8%). Of the total 31 stroke patients clinical depression was observed in 29% while 13% had clinical anxiety. None of the variables had statistically significant association with depression status but anxiety was significantly associated with education (p=0.002) and place of residence (p=0.025).

Conclusion: Depression and anxiety were present in patients with stroke. A larger study can further elaborate the findings of our study.