Dementia of depression or depression of dementia in stroke?

This study describes the correlation between changes in mood symptoms assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and intellectual impairment assessed by the Brief Cognitive Rating Scale (BCRS) and Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS) in 166 unselected 1-year survivors after stroke, in whom post-stroke depression (PSD) has previously been described and validated. The course of intellectual impairment associated with PSD was compared with the course of intellectual impairment in non-PSD patients. In general, improvement in mood symptoms was correlated with an improvement in intellectual function. However, in 53 PSD patients improvement in intellectual performance was absent, despite the fact that the patients reported being significantly less distressed by dementia symptoms. Antidepressive medication did not lead to any improvement in MDRS score. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis of ‘dementia of depression’. To the contrary, the findings indicate ‘depression of dementia’.     

脑卒中合并抑郁治疗前后对比分析

目的　观察、分析脑卒中后抑郁症状的干预对患者康复的影响。方法　脑卒中合并抑郁患者 33例 ,常规脑血管病治疗同时予抗抑郁药物治疗或心理疏导 ,于治疗第 1、2、4、6周末分别进行HAMD抑郁量表评分和神经功能缺损、生活能力状态评定。结果　于 6周末HAMD评分明显降低 (P <0 0 1) ,神经功能缺损和生活能力状态评定明显减低 (P <0 0 1) ,神经功能缺损评定与HAMD评分减低有相关性 (r=0 4 4 5 ,P <0 0 1)。结论　对脑卒中后抑郁症状的干预治疗 ,不但能有效改善抑郁症状 ,而且有利于患者神经功能缺损的康复和生活能力的提高。     

Single voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in post-stroke depression

Mood disorders are associated with structural, metabolic and spectroscopic changes in prefrontal regions. In the case of depression associated with stroke, there is little information about the biochemical profile of these regions, as assessed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS). In a group of first-ever stroke patients, we studied the association between post-stroke depression and ¹H-MRS measurements in unaffected frontal lobes. Twenty-six patients with a first ischemic stroke located outside the frontal lobes were included in the study. Single voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS) was performed to assess N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA)/Cr, glutamate + glutamine (Glx)/Cr, choline (Cho)/Cr and myo-inositol (mI)/Cr ratios. Patients were assessed within the first 10 days after stroke and again four months later. The diagnosis of depression was made on the basis of clinical observation, interview and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores. In a group of 26 patients, eight (31%) met criteria for depression at the first assessment, and nine (35%) met criteria for depression at follow-up. Patients with depression in the immediate post-stroke phase had significantly higher Glx/Cr ratios in the contralesional hemisphere than non-depressive patients. No biochemical differences were found between the groups at 4-month follow-up. These findings suggest that post-stroke depression is accompanied by changes in frontal lobe glutamate/glutamine levels, perhaps reflecting abnormalities in glutamatergic transmission in the immediate post-stroke period.     

Predictors of cognitive level and depression severity are different in patients with left and right hemispheric stroke within the first year of illness

Causes of cognitive impairment after stroke are not yet clear because a large number of sociodemographic and clinical variables complicate the understanding of the phenomenon. We aim to evaluate sociodemographic and clinical predictors of cognitive level and depression in subjects with different lesion laterality. We assessed 153 right (n = 87) and left (n = 66) unilateral first-ever stroke patients within the first year of illness with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-Patient Edition, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the Barthel Index, and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Sociodemographic variables were also measured. Sixty-two (41 %) patients suffered from Major Depression (MDD), and 26 (17 %) suffered from Minor Depression (MIND). An univariate analysis of variance showed that MMSE scores were different throughout the groups of left and right stroke patients with MDD, MIND and without depression. Left stroke patients with MDD were more cognitively impaired than all the other groups. This result was valid after controlling for the effect of lesion location on cognitive level difference between the groups. A series of stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that depression severity was a predictor of cognitive level and vice-versa in left hemispheric stroke patients only. Moreover, educational level in right hemispheric stroke patients and state-anger and number of regions affected in left hemispheric stroke patients were other predictors of cognitive level. The study confirms the hypothesis that predictors of cognitive level and depression severity are different in subjects with different laterality of lesion and that MDD is associated with cognitive impairment in left stroke patients. Received: 4 February 2002, Received in revised form: 14 May 2002, Accepted: 22 May 2002 Correspondence to Gianfranco Spaletta, MD     

脑卒中后抑郁与部位的相关性研究

目的：探讨急性期脑卒中患者影像学改变在脑卒中后抑郁（PSD）患者中的相关性和临床意义,期望早期发现PSD患者并为及时干预提供帮助。方法：对329例急性脑卒中后1个月内患者采用系统的神经心理评估和MRI检查。所有患者均常规行汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）评分,根据头颅MRJ结果分析病变部位。结果：PSD的发病率以左侧半球脑卒中患者明显高于双侧和右侧半球脑卒中患者,且左侧额叶和基底节尤为突出。不同病灶数目组间比较,PSD的发生率以多灶患者明显高于单灶患者（P〈0．01）。结论：急性脑卒中后PSD与病变部位在左侧半球尤其是左侧额叶、颞叶和基底节区具有显著相关性。完全前循环梗死也是易患PSD的危险因素。     

Incidence of post-stroke depression during the first year in a large unselected stroke population determined using a valid standardized rating scale

This study describes the development of post-stroke depression (PSD) prospectively during the first year post-stroke in 285 unselected stroke patients. An appropriate unselected population-based control group without cerebral pathology is included for comparison. Psychiatric assessment with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) was undertaken unmodified. PSD was defined as HDRS ≥ 13. The one-year incidence of PSD among the 209 survivors able to communicate reliably at 1 month was 41%. Most cases develop within the first months following stroke (79%), the frequency of new cases of PSD at one year being 5%, a level comparable to that in the control group. Depressed and nondepressed stroke patients consistently scored 4 points greater on total HDRS than in the corresponding controls.     

Pre-morbid personality and depression following stroke

BACKGROUND: The role of individual differences, including pre-morbid personality, in the development of post-stroke depression, has received relatively little attention. We undertook a cross-sectional study to investigate the relationship between pre-morbid personality and other individual differences, and depression following acute stroke. METHOD: We studied 61 consecutive patients admitted to a dedicated stroke inpatient unit. DSM-IV depressive diagnoses were ascertained using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and depressive symptoms were ascertained on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Informant-rated personality scores were obtained on the full 240-item Neuroticism, Extraversion and Openness Personality Inventory--Revised. Adaptive function was measured on the Modified Barthel Index and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale. Cognitive function was assessed on the Mini-mental State Examination. RESULTS: An increased risk of post-stroke depression was conferred by both pre-morbid neuroticism [odds ratio (OR) 3.69; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.25-10.92] and a past history of mental disorder (OR 10.26; 95% CI 3.02-34.86). There was no significant relationship demonstrated between lesion location and post-stroke depression. CONCLUSIONS: Informant-rated pre-morbid neuroticism and a past history of mental disorder were important predictors of depression following stroke. Stroke side was not significantly related to risk of depressive symptoms following stroke.     

卒中单元护理模式对卒中后抑郁患者疗效的影响

目的 探讨卒中单元护理模式对卒中后抑郁患者的影响。方法 将52例卒中后抑郁患者,随机分为治疗组和对照组,对所有患者均进行常规护理和常规治疗,治疗组在此基础上加用卒中单元护理模式,对两组患者的神经功能和精神状态进行对照研究。结果 按照卒中单元护理模式进行护理干预的患者汉密尔顿抑郁量表（Hamilton Rating Scale forDepression,HRSD）评分、Barthel指数（Barthel index,BI）和神经功能改良Rankin量表（The ModifiedRankin Scales,mRS）评分较常规护理组得到明显改善（P <0.01）。结论 对卒中后抑郁的患者,早期实施卒中单元模式护理,是减轻患者的抑郁情绪、提高康复效果的有效护理方法。     

Treatment of poststroke generalized anxiety disorder comorbid with poststroke depression: merged analysis of nortriptyline trials.

OBJECTIVE: The existence of anxiety disorders plays an important role in the prognosis and associated impairment among patients with poststroke depression. The authors examined the efficacy of nortriptyline treatment for patients with comorbid generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depression after stroke. METHODS: Data from three studies were merged to provide 27 patients with comorbid GAD and depression, who participated in double-blind treatment studies comparing nortriptyline (N=13) and placebo (N=14). Severity of anxiety was measured with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (Ham-A), and severity of depression was measured with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D). Activities of daily living were assessed by use of the Johns Hopkins Functioning Inventory (JHFI). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the nortriptyline and placebo groups in demographic characteristics, stroke type, and neurological findings. Patients receiving nortriptyline treatment showed significantly greater improvement on the Ham-A, Ham-D, and JHFI than patients receiving placebo. The anxiety symptoms showed earlier improvement than depressive symptoms in patients treated with nortriptyline. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that poststroke GAD comorbid with poststroke depression may be effectively treated with nortriptyline, and data indicate the need for a trial specifically designed to examine treatment of anxiety disorder.     

Is left stroke a risk-factor for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant treatment resistance?

The objective of the study was to detect changes of depression and cognitive level associated with right and left brain damage during SSRI treatment in subjects with post-stroke Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). After the baseline evaluation, the 45 patients included received a single oral dose of 20–40 mg of fluoxetine or 50–100 mg of sertraline. At day 0, 7, 14, 28, 42, and 56 a psychometric test battery comprising the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was administered. In the whole group repeated measures ANOVAs revealed a highly significant (p < 0.0001) time effect for HDRS and MMSE scores. However, depression improved much more in right stroke subjects in comparison with left stroke subjects (p < 0.001 for the HDRS by laterality interaction). Moreover, there is a suggestion of a possible selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) efficacy in cognitive impairment associated to post-stroke MDD but in treatment-responders only. At the endpoint, chi-square analysis showed that there was a different prevalence rate of MDD between left (n = 10; 50 %) and right (n = 4; 16 %) stroke patients, whereas the prevalence rate of Minor Depression was identical (25 %). The SSRIs fluoxetine and sertraline could be efficacious treatments for post-stroke MDD but these findings suggest that left stroke could be a predictor of treatment resistance. Received: 6 August 2002, Received in revised form: 4 November 2002, Accepted: 11 November 2002 Correspondence to Gianfranco Spalletta, MD     

Executive function and depressive symptoms of retardation in nonelderly stroke patients

The depression–executive dysfunction syndrome, a late-onset depression of vascular origin with executive dysfunction and psychomotor retardation, has also been described after stroke. We verified whether this syndrome also occurs in nonelderly stroke patients by investigating the association between domains of depressive symptoms with executive functions in 87 first-ever ischemic stroke patients. The retardation domain of the 31-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression was associated with decreased performance on verbal fluency (assessed with FAS). The association was maintained for younger patients (aged <60 years) after adjusting for confounders. This result supports the clinical presentation of depression–executive dysfunction syndrome in younger stroke patients. Confirmation of this finding, its neural correlates, and clinical implication deserve further investigation.     

Common carotid artery intima media thickness and post-stroke cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Acute stroke and other forms of cerebrovascular disease are well-recognized causes of cognitive impairment. Common carotid artery intima media thickness (CCA-IMT) has been associated with certain forms of cerebrovascular disease, but its association with cognitive impairment of vascular origin has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether CCA-IMT is associated with cognitive impairment 1 year after an acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: A total of 171 consecutive patients with the first ever stroke (mean age 66+/-11.5, 41% female) underwent carotid ultrasonography during hospitalization. Demographic data, vascular risk factors and presenting stroke features were also recorded. One year later, patients' cognitive performance and depression were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). RESULTS: Cognitive impairment (MMSE score<24) was found in 67 (39%) of the 171 patients. CCA-IMT was significantly associated with cognitive impairment, and this association remained unchanged (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.19-3.18) after adjustment for demographic data, vascular risk factors, stroke features, other carotid ultrasonography measurements and depression. Older age, low education level, large hemispheric lesions, hyperdense carotid plaques and depression were also independently associated with post-stroke cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, CCA-IMT was independently associated with cognitive impairment 1 year after an acute ischemic stroke, and thus, it might help with the screening of stroke patients at risk of cognitive impairment.     

西酞普兰合并认知疗法治疗脑卒中后抑郁的疗效观察

目的了解西酞普兰合并认知疗法治疗脑卒中后抑郁的疗效。方法将64例脑卒中后抑郁患者随机分为研究组和对照组,研究组给予西酞普兰合并认知疗法,对照组单独用西酞普兰治疗,疗程12周。用汉密顿抑郁量表（HAMD）、不良反应量表（TESS）分别评定疗效和不良反应。结果在治疗第4,8及12周后,研究组上述治疗时段的HAMD评分均分别明显低于对照组;临床疗效研究组优于对照组（U=2．10,P〈0．05）;两组药物不良反应元显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论西酞普兰合并认知疗法治疗脑卒中后抑郁的疗效较好。     

卒中后抑郁与脑损伤部位相关性的临床研究

目的探讨不同的脑损伤部位与脑卒中后抑郁病变的关系,探讨PSD的现况以及对结局的影响。方法收集2010年09月～2011年09月期间河北联合大学附属医院神经内科脑卒中患者300例,通过颅脑CT或MRI进行卒中病灶定位,采用Hamilton抑郁量表对卒中患者在发病14±2d及90±7d进行抑郁及程度的评价。对收集患者的相关临床指标如美国国立卫生院神经功能缺损评分(NIHSS)、改良Rankin量表评分(MRS)、简易精神状态检查表(MMSE)评分等相关因素进行统计分析。结果 140例脑卒中患者合并PSD,总发生率为46.67%,其中轻中度抑郁占46.00%,重度抑郁占0.67%;多发性、左侧半球、额颞叶、基底节区脑卒中患者PSD发生率高。结论脑卒中患者神经功能缺损程度评分越高,其患抑郁的程度也就越高。PSD发生与卒中类型无关,而与卒中部位、卒中残疾程度等因素有关。     

Lack of association between suicidal ideation and enhanced platelet 5-HT2A receptor-mediated calcium mobilization in cancer patients with depression.

BACKGROUND: Increased density of 5-HT2A receptors was observed in the platelets of depressive patients with suicidal ideation. Enhanced 5-HT2A receptor-mediated platelet calcium mobilization has been proposed as a biological marker for the pathophysiology of major depression in cancer patients as well as in physically healthy patients. To examine whether depressive cancer patients with suicidal ideation have enhanced 5-HT2A receptor-mediated platelet response compared with those without suicidal ideation, we compared 5-HT-induced platelet calcium mobilization in depressive cancer patients with and without suicidal ideation. METHODS: 5-HT-induced platelet calcium mobilization was examined in 24 cancer patients diagnosed as having major depression according to the DSM-IV criteria. Suicidal ideation was evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Zung's Self Depression Scale, as well as by the DSM-IV criteria. RESULTS: There was no significant differences in 5-HT-induced platelet calcium response between the depressive cancer patients with (n = 8) and without suicidal ideation (n = 16). 5-HT-induced platelet calcium response was also not significantly associated with the severity of suicidal ideation or with the severity of depression assessed by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Zung's Self Depression Scale. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that enhanced 5-HT2A receptor-mediated response was not associated with suicidal ideation in cancer patients with depression.     

Efficacy of milnacipran on cognitive dysfunction with post-stroke depression: preliminary open-label study

The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), milnacipran, on both cognitive impairment and depression in post-stroke depression (PSD) patients. A total of 18 PSD patients, approximately 3 months after stroke, were divided into two groups, milnacipran and control. A total of 10 patients were assigned to the milnaciprane group and eight were assigned to control group. Their cognitive impairment and mood symptoms were measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) both at the time of admission and at discharge, an interval of approximately 3 months. This study examined the changes in both MMSE and HAM-D scores during the study period. A significant time-by-group interaction for results of the MMSE was observed, although there was no significant difference between the two groups on the HAM-D. Amelioration of cognitive impairment was greater in the milnacipran group than the control group. For PSD patients, milnacipran is effective in improving cognitive dysfunction.     

Dementia and cognitive impairment three months after stroke

To investigate the cognitive capacities of a cohort of ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke survivors and to identify the clinical determinants of post-stroke cognitive impairment, we evaluated 237 patients admitted to a Stroke Unit (mean age 59; SD=12.7). Three months after stroke, patients were submitted to a neuropsychological evaluation that included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), a complementary battery to assess specific cognitive domains, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Blessed Dementia Scale (BDS). Disturbed performance on at least one domain was detected on 131 (55%) patients: 27% had cognitive deficits other than memory, 7% had focal memory deficit, 9% had memory and other cognitive deficits and 6% had dementia. Dementia was associated with female gender (P=0.01), older age (P=0.01) and lower education level (P=0.04). Patients with memory deficits were older (P=0.01) with lower educational level (P=0.08) and more left sided lesions (P=0.02) than patients without memory deficits. In this middle aged stroke survivors cognitive impairment was common 3 months after stroke, while dementia was infrequent.     

Symptoms of striatofrontal dysfunction contribute to disability in geriatric depression

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether symptoms of striatofrontal dysfunction contribute to disability in geriatric depression. DESIGN: Cross-sectional evaluation of the relationship of specific cognitive impairments, psychomotor retardation, severity of depression, and medical burden to impairment of instrumental activities of daily living. SETTING: Inpatient and outpatient services of a psychiatric university hospital located in a suburban metropolitan area.Patients. One hundred and fifty elderly psychiatric inpatients and outpatients with major depression and cognitive function ranging from normal to moderate dementia. MEASURES: Psychomotor retardation was evaluated with the Hamilton retardation item and executive dysfunction was assessed with the initiation/perseveration (IP) domain of the Dementia Rating Scale. Disability, severity of depression and medical burden were assessed with the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Index of the Multilevel Assessment Instrument, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale-Geriatric, respectively. RESULTS: In the entire sample (N = 150) and in the non-demented subjects (N = 101), stepwise regression analyses revealed that IP and psychomotor retardation were associated with IADL impairment. Additionally, a 'striatofrontal component', which consisted of IP and psychomotor retardation was also significantly associated with IADL impairment in the whole sample, as well as in the non-demented patients. CONCLUSION: Clinical symptoms and neuropsychological findings associated with striatofrontal dysfunction contribute to disability in depressed elderly patients.     

Previous stroke but not vascular risk factors are associated with depression in a cognitively impaired older Korean population

BACKGROUND: Depression is frequently associated with dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Cerebrovascular disease may be an important aetiological factor for depression in the context of cognitive impairment but has received little investigation in population-based research. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between vascular disease/risk and depression in an older Korean population with cognitive impairment.Methods: The sample consisted of 341 persons, drawn from a community study in Kwangju, South Korea, all aged 65 or over and with scores of 24 or below on the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination. Depression (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression), vascular disease/risk (interview, examination and blood tests), and disablement were ascertained. RESULTS: Previous stroke was associated with depression (Odds Ratio 3.4, 95% Confidence Intervals 1.6-7.4). This association was weaker in the presence of more severe cognitive impairment and higher levels of dependency. No associations were found between depression and any other measures of vascular risk. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of previous stroke, a role of vascular disease/risk was not supported in the aetiology late-life depression.     

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of quetiapine in the treatment of bipolar I or II depression

OBJECTIVE: There is a major unmet need for effective options in the treatment of bipolar depression. METHOD: Five hundred forty-two outpatients with bipolar I (N=360) or II (N=182) disorder experiencing a major depressive episode (DSM-IV) were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of quetiapine (600 or 300 mg/day) or placebo. The primary efficacy measure was mean change from baseline to week 8 in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale total score. Additional efficacy assessments included the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression of severity and improvement, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire. RESULTS: Quetiapine at either dose demonstrated statistically significant improvement in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale total scores compared with placebo from week 1 onward. The proportions of patients meeting response criteria (> or =50% Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale score improvement) at the final assessment in the groups taking 600 and 300 mg/day of quetiapine were 58.2% and 57.6%, respectively, versus 36.1% for placebo. The proportions of patients meeting remission criteria (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale < or =12) were 52.9% in the groups taking 600 and 300 mg/day of quetiapine versus 28.4% for placebo. Quetiapine at 600 and 300 mg/day significantly improved 9 of 10 and 8 of 10 Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale items, respectively, compared to placebo, including the core symptoms of depression. Treatment-emergent mania rates were low and similar for the quetiapine and placebo groups (3.2% and 3.9%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Quetiapine monotherapy is efficacious and well tolerated for the treatment of bipolar depression.