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(Stroke. 2006;37:2854.)
© 2006 American Heart Association, Inc.

Research Reports

Prevalence of Depression and Use of Antidepressant Medication at 5-Years Poststroke in the North East Melbourne Stroke Incidence Study

From the National Stroke Research Institute (S.L.P., H.M.D., J.W.S., A.G.T.), Austin Health, Heidelberg Heights, Victoria, Australia; the Department of Medicine (S.L.P., H.M.D., R.A.L.M., A.G.T.), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; the Neurology Department (H.M.D., R.A.L.M., A.G.T.), Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Gosford Hospital and the University of Newcastle (J.W.S.), Newcastle, Australia; and the Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine (A.G.T.), Monash University, Monash, Australia.

Correspondence to Seana L. Paul, BSc (Hons), National Stroke Research Institute, Level 1, Neurosciences Building, Repatriation Hospital Heidelberg, Austin Health, 300 Waterdale Rd., Heidelberg Heights, Victoria, Australia, 3081. E-mail seana.paul{at}utas.edu.au

Background and Purpose— There are few data on the prevalence or treatment of depression from unselected populations long-term poststroke. We assessed the prevalence of depression and antidepressant use at 5-years poststroke in an unselected stroke population.

Methods— Five-year survivors from a prospective community-based stroke incidence study were assessed for depression with the Irritability, Depression and Anxiety Scale. Medications indicated primarily for treatment of depression were recorded.

Results— At 5-years poststroke, 441 (45%) of 978 incident cases were alive (mean age=74±15 years, 49% female). Seventeen percent of those assessed were depressed. Twenty-two percent with depression were taking an antidepressant medication. Of those taking an antidepressant, 72% were not depressed.

Conclusions— Although nearly one-fifth of survivors were depressed, few were taking antidepressants. Further exploration of this low level of treatment is warranted.

Key Words: depression • epidemiology • psych and behavior • treatment

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