Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2007 , Vol 53 , Num 1

Psychiatric Disorders in Stroke Patients

Okan Çalıyurt 1
1 Trakya Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Psikiyatri Anabilim Dalı, Edirne, Türkiye

Stroke is one of the most important health problem and leading cause of death. Many of the permanent health problems can occur after the acute phase of stroke. Psychiatric disorders are seen very often after stroke. Major depression is the most widely observed psychiatric disorder. Vascular dementia, mania, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders and schizophrenia can develope after stroke. These psychiatric disorders could prevent to recovery of the neurologic disorder. On the other hand psychiatric disorders limits the psychologic and social life, negatively affects the treatment and quality of life. Being alert after the acute phase of stroke could bring an opportunity to inhibit the developing psychiatric disorder and facilities the treatment protocol. On the other hand detecting psyciatric disorders may help to adopt a treatment compliance and provide adequate biopsycosocial support. 

Keywords : Stroke, psychiatric disorders, depression, psychosis, mania, delirium, anxiety disorder, dementia