More than 795,000 people have a stroke in the United States every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The physical impacts of stroke are well known—loss of mobility or brain function, among them. But there’s one side effect of stroke that doesn’t get the attention it deserves: depression.
Post-Stroke Depression—Recognizing the Threat
The National Institutes of Health estimates that roughly a third of all stroke survivors experience depression. And a whopping 58 percent of stroke survivor’s caregivers experience depressive symptoms. That’s far too big of a problem to ignore.
In my practice, I often see stroke patients and their families struggling with this very issue. Yet, many are reluctant to seek treatment. The reasons vary. Stroke survivors often don’t want to appear weak when they should be “soldiering through.” The same could be said for a stroke-survivor’s caregivers, whose first instinct is usually to downplay their own medical needs.
Most people who have had a major health crisis report feeling “down” or upset about their “new normal” afterwards. This is to be expected.
But clinical depression is different. Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, sometimes brought on by stresses and life changes, or as a co-morbid condition of stroke. Depression is usually diagnosed for patients who are experiencing symptoms such as:
- Changes in appetite and sleep patterns
- Sadness or sudden, unexplained crying spells
- Uncharacteristic irritability, anger or agitation
- Constant worry and anxiety
- Loss of energy, lethargy
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness that interfere with daily functioning
- Difficulty concentrating
- Loss of pleasure in hobbies or activities
- Abuse of alcohol or chemical substances
- Suicidal thoughts, or feeling like life isn’t worth living
Depression comes in many levels, too. Symptoms can be as mild as a slowdown in daily function and irritability, or as serious as a patient who simply can’t rise from bed to face the day. The key is knowing what’s normal for the patient and being able to describe changes in behavior to your medical team.
Post-Stroke Depression Treatment
The good news is, there are treatments available for depression that can truly help. In fact, 80 percent of people who experience depression can show improvement in just four to six weeks after starting treatment. Usually, this includes anti-depressant medication, talk therapy and/or attending a support group. At UofL Health, we can direct you to local support groups for both stroke survivors and for the caregivers who support them. I urge everyone affected by stroke to take advantage of these groups. They are an enormous resource not just for support, but practical tips and coping strategies for the daily pressures of post-stroke care.
