Psychological well-being 3 years after severe stroke

Background and Purpose-Stroke often has a very negative influence on the vi ctims' perception of their life situation. The aim of this study was theref ore to assess the subjects' long-term psychological well-being and to explo re associations between subject characteristics, impairments, disabilities, and psychological well-being. Methods-Of 100 subjects rehabilitated at a specialized geriatric;stroke war d after the acute phase, 47 survivors were assessed in their homes 3 years after discharge and interviewed regarding their psychological well-being wi th the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS). Results-Sixty-four percent of the subjects were classified as having high s cores for psychological well-being or fell within the middle range. In a cl uster analysis, depression was shown to have the strongest association with the subjects' PGCMS scores. Variables including the subjects' social situa tion and functions as well as age, gender, ability to communicate, and need for help showed a much weaker association with the PGCMS. Conclusions-More than half of the stroke subjects were classified as having levels of psychological well-being that were good or fairly good. The stro ng association between PGCMS scores and depression indicates the importance of detecting and treating depression and of following up initiated therapy after stroke.