Functioning of Cognitive Processes in People with Depression in the Post-Stroke Period

Background. Depressive disorders are common in the post-stroke period. Depression can increase cognitive impairment and may have its own cognitive symptoms. These factors worsen the patient’s condition, hinder involvement in the therapeutic process, and reduce the effectiveness of rehabilitation.

Objective. The aim of the study is to consider the specifics of cognitive functioning after a stroke in people with and without depression.

Study Participants. The study involved 50 respondents aged 41 to 84 who had experienced a diagnosed stroke. The localisation of the lesion was predominantly left-side. Ischemic stroke was more common.

Methods. The following techniques were used in the study: Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), McNair and Kahn Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). For statistical processing and data analysis, Student’s t-test, the Mann — Whitney U test were used.

Results. During the study, people with depression showed pronounced cognitive disorders in the “Memory” and “Attention and Orientation” domains. No differences in general objective cognitive functioning were found in people with and without depression. However, people with identified depression had more pronounced subjective cognitive deficit. The degree of anxiety manifestation also appears to be at a higher level in people with depression.

Conclusions. Post-stroke functioning of cognitive processes has some differences in people with depression: impairment of delayed recall, as well as impairment of orientation in place and time. The results of the study allow us to determine possible trends in the development of disorders. Neuropsychological diagnostics after a stroke is necessary regardless of the presence or absence of complaints from the patient, for timely therapy, improving recovery prognosis and reducing the risk of recurrent stroke.

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