Anxiety, Depression, and Psychological Well-being 2 to 5 years Poststroke

ObjectivesWe sought to explore psychological well-being and the psychosocial situation in persons with stroke, 2 to 5 years after discharge from a specialized rehabilitation hospital.MethodsThe Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; the 30-item General Health Questionnaire; and a questionnaire were mailed to 255 former patients.ResultsA total of 64% answered (36% women), and the average age was 58 years. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale identified problems in 47% (anxiety in 36% and depression in 28%) and 30-item General Health Questionnaire in 54%. About half had experienced periods of anxiety, depression, or both since discharge. Most were satisfied with support by family/friends (88%), home ward (68%), and community therapy services (57%). Marital status was as in the general population.ConclusionsLong after stroke, almost half of the investigated patients with stroke had psychiatric problems according to the questionnaires. This is higher than in the general population but is comparable with some other chronic, somatic populations in Norway.