Depressive symptoms due to stroke are strongly predicted by the volume and location of the cerebral infarction, white matter hyperintensities, hypertension, and age: A precision nomothetic psychiatry analysis

Objectives: To delineate the effects of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) as measured by Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and infarction volume as measured by Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) on poststroke depression symptoms. Methods: Baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS) and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores, and FLAIR and DWI MRIs to assess WMHs and acute infarct volumes, respectively, were assessed in 47 patients (>= 55 years) with acute ischemic stroke and 17 normal controls. The Montgomery-angstrom sberg Depression Rating Scale (MDRS) was assessed three months after the stroke. Results: The MADRS score was significantly increased in stroke patients as compared with normal controls. The MADRS scale is not unidimensional and cannot be used as an accurate indicator of depression severity in stroke patients. Three months after stroke, key depressive (sadness and inability to feel) and concentration-tension symptoms, and lassitude are significantly predicted by the infarct volume. Right side infarction strongly predicts key depressive symptoms and left side infarction strongly predicts concentration-tension and lassitude scores. Total WMHs significantly predict key depressive and concentration-tension symptoms, and lassitude, with these effects being mediated by right and left DWI stroke volumes and associated disabilities. Conclusions: Interactions between age, hypertension, a chronic atherosclerotic process, and acute stroke account for the onset of key depressive symptoms three months after the acute infarct. Chronic and acute neuro-immune and neuro-oxidative stress pathways associated with the formation of WMHs and acute stroke may explain the incidence of post-stroke key depressive and concentration-tension symptoms, and lassitude.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and infarction volume on poststroke depression symptoms. The results showed that infarction volume significantly predicted key depressive and concentration-tension symptoms, and lassitude three months after stroke, while total WMHs significantly predicted key depressive and concentration-tension symptoms, and lassitude, with these effects being mediated by right and left DWI stroke volumes and associated disabilities.