Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment and depression are associated with poststroke mortality.

Background: Studies generally do not examine patients' prestroke depression diagnoses and treatments.

Objective: To examine the association of depression diagnosis and prestroke and/or poststroke selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment with poststroke mortality.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of the medical records of a cohort of veterans with a stroke diagnosis between July 31, 2000, and September 30, 2001.

Impact of antidepressant dispensing on health service use among veterans with stroke.

Objective: To examine the association between dispensing of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant medication and inpatient and outpatient service use in a cohort of veterans with confirmed acute stroke.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Southeastern U.

Does prestroke depression impact poststroke depression and treatment?

Objectives: To 1) describe the prevalence of before the stroke depression (BSD) and poststroke depression (PSD) and 2) serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment patterns.

Design: Naturalistic, retrospective cohort design.

Setting: Veterans Healthcare System.

Racial and ethnic disparities in post-stroke depression detection.

Objectives: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is common among stroke survivors and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Little is understood about racial/ethnic differences in PSD detection. This study assessed the racial/ethnic disparities in PSD detection in a national cohort of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) acute stroke patients.

Geographic variation in poststroke depression among veterans with acute stroke.

This study compared patterns of poststroke depression (PSD) detection among veterans with acute stroke in eight U.S. geographic regions.

Case-finding algorithm for post-stroke depression in the veterans health administration.

Objectives: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is prevalent, often undiagnosed, and undertreated. The accuracy of detecting patients with post-stroke depression in administrative databases has not been examined.The objective was to validate a case-finding algorithm for post-stroke depression (PSD) among veteran stroke survivors.

Identifying veterans with acute strokes with high-specificity ICD-9 algorithm with VA automated records and Medicare claims data: a more complete picture.

Medicare claims data are available to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) researchers to identify veterans with acute stroke. Our study sought to (1) ascertain whether additional acute stroke cases are identified with Medicare data and (2) assess the use of VA and Medicare inpatient automated data for assigning the stroke date. The study population was veterans living in Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 with an acute stroke diagnosis during fiscal year 2001.

Enhancing the role public health nurses play in serving children with special health needs: an interactive videoconference on Public Law 99-457 Part H.

Public Law 99-457 Part H supports the development of systems to identify infants and toddlers with special health needs and provide these children the comprehensive care they need. Although public health nurses traditionally provide many of the mandated services. Part H, with its roots in education, presents new terminology, conceptual models, and challenges to public health nurses.