Forms of anxiety after stroke

This study attempted to identify the subtypes of anxiety present in the roughly one-in-five people who experience anxiety after stroke.¹ Phobic anxiety was the most common form seen in this patient group.¹ Some participants reported avoidance of situations that would provoke anxiety, and were fearful of a repeat stroke, or in some instances a fall.¹ The authors comment that interventions often studied in post-stroke anxiety are unlikely to be effective in phobic anxiety – patients may benefit if future studies focus on interventions thought to be effective in treating phobia, such as exposure techniques.¹

Reference:
1.Chun HY, Whiteley WN, Dennis MS, Mead GE, Carson AJ. Anxiety after stroke: the importance of subtyping. Stroke 2018; 49 (3): 556–564.