The effect of aphasia upon personality traits, depression and anxiety among stroke patients

J Affect Disord. 2015 Feb 1:172:312-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.10.027. Epub 2014 Oct 22.

Abstract

Background: Post-stroke patients with aphasia have higher levels of psychological distress. We aimed to find the relation between post-stroke aphasia and depression, anxiety and personality traits.

Methods: One month after stroke, 61 consecutive patients with stroke were included in this study. Thirty post-stroke patients with aphasia and 31 patients without aphasia. We used the following scales a clinical-friendly: Aphasic test, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Hamilton anxiety and Beck Depression Inventory.

Results: Depression and anxiety were more prominent among patients with aphasia than stroke without aphasia. Psychosis was more prominent among post-stroke patients with aphasia.

Limitations: Our results may not exclusively exclude pre-morbid personality traits.

Conclusions: Our study highlights the growing need to develop community rehabilitation services in the developing world, which address both physical and psychological morbidity.

Keywords: Anxiety; Aphasia; Behavior; Depression; Personality traits; Stroke.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anxiety / etiology
  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Aphasia / complications
  • Aphasia / psychology*
  • Depression / etiology
  • Depression / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Stroke / complications
  • Stroke / psychology*