Comparing the Course of Mental Health Over the First Year After Stroke With Healthy Controls in Colombia, South America.

BACKGROUND:Stroke is a primary cause of death and disability in upper-middle-income countries such as Colombia. Given the lack of comprehensive rehabilitation for stroke patients in Colombia, there is a need to assess longitudinal mental health problems poststroke in this region. OBJECTIVE:To compare the course of mental health in stroke patients to healthy controls over the first year poststroke in Ibague, Colombia. DESIGN:Cross-sectional study. SETTING:The Psychological Attention Center of Antonio Nariño University in Ibague, Colombia. PARTICIPANTS:Stroke patients (n = 50) and age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n = 50). METHODS:Patients and controls completed self-report Spanish versions of demographic information, injury-related characteristics, and mental health questionnaires MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Outcomes assessed included mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress) at 3, 6, and 12 months poststroke. RESULTS:Hierarchical linear models suggested that stroke patients had worse depression and anxiety over time than controls (P < .001). Among patients, depression and anxiety decreased over time (P < .001), whereas stress increased over time (P < .01). The findings suggest that although anxiety and depression improved over time in stroke patients, their mental health remained significantly lower than that of controls. CONCLUSIONS:This is the first study to examine the course of mental health over the first year poststroke in Latin America, specifically in Ibague, Colombia. Despite the improvements in anxiety and depression over the first year poststroke, patient anxiety and depression were still worse in comparison to those in healthy controls. The current findings indicate a need for rehabilitation services in Colombia, especially targeting mental health issues. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:I.