The neuropsychiatry of stroke

Stroke represents a major public health problem in the United Stares, but r elatively little work has been directed toward identifying and treating the common neuropsychiatric disorders occurring after stroke. This review disc usses clinical and pathological correlates of depression, anxiety disorder catastrophic reactions, pathological affect, or psychosis after stroke, as well as their epidemiology. Depressive disorder and anxiety disorder have b een shown to inhibit physical recovery from stroke. It seems likely that ot her psychiatric disorders also inhibit recovery and limit quality of life. There are very few controlled trials examining the effectiveness of treatme nts for these disorders after stroke. Both depression and pathological affe ct, however can be effectively treated with antidepressant medications.