Patient mood and carer strain during stroke rehabilitation in the community following early hospital discharge

Purpose : Patient mood and carer stress were assessed for stroke patients in the community following early hospital discharge. Method: Patients had low Barthel Indices (13.0 (mean) +/-4.9 (SD)) with high anxiety and depression scores, and carers had high stress scores, on starting rehabilitation. On starting rehabilitation, patient Barthel Indices correlated inversely with patient depression (r = 0.33, p <0.02) and carer stress scores (r = 0.48, p <0.001). Results : During rehabilitation improvements occurred in patient Barthel Indices, patient anxiety scores and carer stress scores, but not in patient depression scores. Incremental increases in patient Barthel Indices during rehabilitation correlated with reductions in carer stress scores (r = -0.55, R-2 = 29.4%, p <0.001). Following early hospital discharge stroke patients display mood abnormalities which do not resolve during rehabilitation. Conclusion : Carer stress and patients depression scores are related to the severity of stroke-related disability. Strategies to address patient mood and carer stress should be present in community services providing early stroke rehabilitation.