Depression, Distress, and Stroke

Psychological distress, but not major depression, increases the risk for stroke.

Major depression is a known risk factor for heart disease (Journal Watch Psychiatry Nov 27 2006), and psychological distress (i.e., depressive symptoms) has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality (Journal Watch Psychiatry Sep 18 2006). However, it is not clear whether either depression or psychological distress increases the risk for stroke. To learn more, these researchers analyzed data on 20,627 stroke-free adults in the U.K. (8939 men; age range, 41–80) who were participating in a population-based, prospective, cohort study. The researchers examined the associations between baseline health status and the occurrence of fatal and nonfatal strokes (595 incidents) during a median of 8.5 years of follow-up.

Higher baseline rate…

Reviewing Author

Jonathan Silver, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)

Jonathan Silver, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

Depression, Distress, and Stroke

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Reviewing Author