Post-stroke neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS)

As outlined on the slide, after a stroke many people go on to experience neuropsychiatric symptoms including depression, anxiety, apathy, and fatigue.¹ Furthermore, many people who experience a stroke also experience psychological distress below the threshold for a psychological diagnosis – a stroke can often be a major life event, and some degree of emotional distress is a normal reaction.¹ Healthcare professionals should be aware of the risks of patients developing these symptoms after stroke, and should take these symptoms into account when developing a clinical management plan.¹

References:
1.UK and Ireland National Clinical Guideline for Stroke. Rehabilitation and recovery – psychological effects of stroke. Available at: https://www.strokeguideline.org/chapter/psychological-effects-of-stroke/#385. Accessed May 2023.

2.Chun HY, Ford A, Kutlubaev MA, Almeida OP, Mead GE. Depression, anxiety, and suicide after stroke: a narrative review of the best available evidence. Stroke 2022; 53 (4): 1402–1410.

3.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – fifth edition – text revision. American Psychiatric Association; 2022.

4.Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Recommendations: mood, cognition and fatigue following stroke. Available at: https://www.strokebestpractices.ca/recommendations/mood-cognition-and-fatigue-following-stroke. Accessed May 2023.