Неврология, нейропсихиатрия, психосоматика (Jun 2015)
The symptoms of pathological fatigue, apathy, and depression in patients after stroke
Abstract
Objective: to comparatively analyze the rate and correlation of the symptoms of pathological fatigue, apathy, and depression in patients in the termination phase of an acute stroke period.Patients and methods. The symptoms of asthenia (pathological fatigue), apathy, and depression were comparatively investigated in 105 patients at 3–4 weeks after stroke. The fatigue rating scale, apathy rating scale, and hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale were used to evaluate the symptoms of pathological fatigue, apathy, and depression. The level of anxiety was also estimated using the appropriate HAD subscale and the Epworth daytime sleepiness scale; the magnitude of cognitive impairments was judged from the Montreal cognitive assessment. The type, basin, and recurrence of stroke were registered. The severity of neurological deficit was evaluated using the U.S. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS); limited functional capacities were estimated by the modified Rankin scale (mRS). The presence of prestroke fatigue was also determined.Results and discussion. The symptoms of asthenia were observed in 56% of the patients and associated with the severity of poststroke disability. The symptoms of apathy were detected in 10.5% of the patients; those of depression were present in 18% and determined by the magnitude of neurological deficit and the degree of poststroke disability and cognitive impairments. All the three phenomena were correlated with the magnitude of anxiety, daytime sleepiness, and between them. This suggests that they may complicate a reciprocal course in some cases. The symptoms of depression, asthenia, and apathy may also develop on their own, which is borne out by their different rates and correlations. Each of these phenomena requires an individual approach to diagnosis and treatment.Conclusion. The symptoms of pathological fatigue are most common and least specific in patients with mild poststroke neurological deficit. Apathy may be also associated with depression or develop on its own. Further investigation of mechanisms for the development of poststroke pathological fatigue and apathy is important for developing effective methods to correct these abnormalities.
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