A study on clinical correlates of post-stroke anxiety

AIM: To determine the relation of age of stroke onset, gender, type of stroke, site of lesion and medical comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension with HAM-A scores in PSA (Post Stroke-Anxiety). METHODS: Present study was a hospital based cross sectional study conducted over 2 months that included 61 patients from neurology OPD. Purposive sampling was done. The patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were first assessed using a semi structured proforma for the socio-demographic data. Based on the clinical findings and using ICD 10-DCR criteria the 61 patients with CVA were segregated as stroke with anxiety disorder and without anxiety disorder. HAM-A and HAM-D scales were applied and MRI findings were obtained. RESULTS: There was significant difference on HAM-A (F=0.031, p=0.000) and HAM-D scores (F=4.453, p=0.039) between the two groups with PSA patients showing higher mean value as compared to non-anxiety stroke patients. There was no significant difference with respect to type of stroke, hemispherical involvement and medical co-morbidities i.e. hypertension and type 2 DM between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the mean HAM-A scores across the two hemispheres, types of stroke, and medical co-morbidities among PSA patients. CONCLUSION: In PSA patients the higher mean value of HAM-D in comparison to stroke patients without anxiety suggests that anxiety disorder in stroke survivors may be a predictor of impending depressive disorder. Age, gender, type of stroke and site of lesion do not show any correlation with PSA.