Title : Affective disorders after stroke and traumatic brain injury in the long term perspective
Abstract:
Affective disorders are frequent after acquired brain lesions like stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Depression had been more often been studied than anxiety although incidence and prevalence of both is nearly equal, and a high comorbidity between both exists. Most research has been done in the (post)acute phase of stroke and TBI, whereas their incidence and prevalence increase in the long term run. These affective disorders are most often present for a period of time, are much seldomly persisting the whole time. There is no good correlation with type and severity of disablement, cognitive disturbances are more under discussion than motor disabilities. No indicators could be found for the risk if and when a person will suffer from such affective disorders. Therefore, repeated mental examinations are a must in the long term medical care. In stroke patients differences of prevalence for anxiety and depression exist between countries in the five years perspective, why remains still unclear. But in every country the percentage of untreated patients is high, although pharmaco- and/or psychotherapy are effective. In TBI patients younger people has a higher life long risk for mental, especially affective disorders with difference between genders in subtypes. Addiction or aggression become relevant mental comorbidities in TBI survivors. If they also have a higher risk for cerebrodegenerative diseases, is under research
