Abstract
Objectives: To identify factors related to post stroke depression among stroke survivors, including the functional dependence, perceived stress, and perceived social support, as well as demographic characteristics, and to describe the relationship among them.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was performed, with a total sample of stroke survivors (N=60). Data was collected using a questionnaire on patient’s characteristics, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Barthel Index, the Perceived Stress Scale-10, and the Multidimentional Scale of Perceived Social Support.
Results: The mean score of patient’s depression was 13,02 ± 6,82, in which 23,33% of patients had moderate depression, patients with moderately severe depression and severe depression were equal with 21,67%. There were statistically significant differences among groups of education level, marital status, financial status, function in financial family, and functional change after stroke to PSD. There were statistically significant correlation between perveived stress, functional dependence, perceived social support and PSD.
Conclusions: It is crucial for health care providers to pay more attention to patient’s mental health to provide mental health screening, appropriate psychological counseling in early stages after stroke with aiming of reducing the severity of depression of patients, decreasing their stress level, increasing their functional independence, and enhancing quality of life for patients.