Symptom clusters of early‐stage poststroke depression: A mixed‐methods study

AIM: To identify the symptom clusters of early‐stage poststroke depression (PSD) and provide an in‐depth understanding of the symptoms. DESIGN: A mixed‐methods study with a convenient sampling method was used. METHODS: A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey in 231 stroke patients and semi‐structured interviews in 14 stroke patients were conducted in the neurological department of a comprehensive hospital in Southeast China. Data from the questionnaire survey were analysed through descriptive and exploratory factor analyses; data from the semi‐structured interview were transcribed verbatim and analysed through inductive content analysis. This study adheres to the GRAMMS checklist. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis revealed six symptom clusters of early‐stage PSD that accounted for an ideal variance in PSD: nervous, wakefulness, emotional, dull, guilt and low mood. Further, inductive content analysis revealed five themes that were like the above symptom clusters, except for the dull symptom cluster.