The Infl uence of Gender and Laterality of Lesion on Severity of Post-Stroke Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

Introduction. This prospective study evaluates the effects of gender and stroke
lateralization-related differences on the severity of depressive symptoms.
Materials and Methods. A total of eighty right-handed patients (20-80 years of age)
were enrolled prospectively. These individuals were in the subacute phase of their
fi rst, single unilateral stroke. Thirty-fi ve (44%) were women. The majority of patients
(74%) had cerebral infarcts, and 26% had an intracerebral hemorrhage. The Beck
Depression Inventory (BDI) edition 2, was used to assess the severity of depressive
symptoms. (A cutoff point of 14 or higher was applied to distinguish patients with
depressive symptoms).
Results. At discharge from rehabilitation, the BDI-II identifi ed depressive
symptomatology in 33% of patients (n=26 patients). Although the frequency of
depressive symptoms was similar in both sexes, we identifi ed signifi cant differences
in the frequencies of post-stroke depressive symptoms between men and
women with different localization of stroke. Females with poststroke depressive
symptomatology were more likely to have a cortical lesion, whereas males with
poststroke depressive symptomatology were more likely to have a subcortical lesion.
We also noted that women had signifi cantly more severe depressive symptoms
(higher mean BDI-II scores) than men. In addition, the severity of depressive
symptoms was related to the laterality of lesion in men but not in women. Men with
left-sided stroke had signifi cantly more severe depressive symptoms than men with
right-sided stroke.