Incidence and risk factors of poststroke depression among acute stroke survival patients attending neurology outpatient department of a selected hospital in Kolkata

Background: Poststroke depression is consider as the most common emotional disorder of stroke survivors; it can affect one among three of stroke survivors at any time up to 5 years after stroke. Researcher chooses the topic to give focus on the emotional health of the stroke survivors after the stroke. This study was conducted to identify the incidence (short-term incidence) and risk factors of poststroke depression among acute stroke survival patients. Subjects and Methods: This descriptive survey design was conducted at neurology outpatient department of a selected hospital in Kolkata. Total 104 acute (within 3 months following stroke) stroke survival patients were selected by purposive sampling technique for this study purpose. Incidence of poststroke depression was identified by Montgomery–Asberg depression rating scale and for risk factors of poststroke depression; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Barthel Index, and Mini-mental status examination were used. Tool was pretested before the final study. Results: The findings of the study showed that the incidence (short-term incidence) of poststroke depression was 52% (95% confidence interval: 42.2%–61.8%). The Chi-square value reveals that there is a significant association between poststroke depression and deterioration of disease condition from the onset of the disease, days of suffering from the disease, number of admission for the disease, severity of stroke, impairment of level of independence, and impairment of cognitive function. Conclusion: Identifying the risk factors of poststroke depression, the nurses can screen the stroke survival patients for early detection of depression following stroke.