The effect of aphasia upon personality traits, depression and anxiety among stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke patients with aphasia have higher levels of psychological distress. We aimed to find the relation between post-stroke aphasia and depression, anxiety and personality traits.

METHODS: One month after stroke, 61 consecutive patients with stroke were included in this study. Thirty post-stroke patients with aphasia and 31 patients without aphasia. We used the following scales a clinical-friendly: Aphasic test, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Hamilton anxiety and Beck Depression Inventory.

RESULTS: Depression and anxiety were more prominent among patients with aphasia than stroke without aphasia. Psychosis was more prominent among post-stroke patients with aphasia.

LIMITATIONS: Our results may not exclusively exclude pre-morbid personality traits.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the growing need to develop community rehabilitation services in the developing world, which address both physical and psychological morbidity.