The lived experience of stroke survivors with early depressive symptoms: A longitudinal perspective

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to describe the lived experience as it develops over time in stroke survivors suffering from early depressive symptoms. METHOD: This paper presents a phenomenological hermeneutical interview-study of nine participants at 6, 12, and 18 months after stroke. FINDINGS: The participants related the depressive symptoms to the consequences of the stroke, and the experience of loss was crucial. Depressive symptoms was not meaningful on its own, but formed the backdrop of the experience of stroke. Our findings revealed three patterns of experience: (1) finding a restored self; (2) trapped in a different life; and (3) fighting to regain self. Two groups of stroke survivors are particularly vulnerable and should receive special attention: (a) old adults living alone; and (b) adults experiencing serious threats to their commitments such as to work, family, and children. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms have a severe impact on life after stroke. Life circumstances, degree of residual impairment from a stroke, and social context were found to influence people to move along different paths. Older adults living alone and adults experiencing serious threat to their commitments should receive special attention, in terms of further research and in terms of follow-up in clinical practice. More studies investigating the experience of post-stroke depression (PSD) over time and the association between depressive symptoms and loss/grieving are needed. There is also a need for continued empirical research on the identification of effective interventions aimed at prevention or improved coping with PSD.