Psychological factors after stroke: Are they stable over time?

Objective: Psychological factors influence stroke outcomes, such as participation and quality of life. Although important for clinical practice, not much is known about the temporal stability of these factors. This study explored whether psychological factors are stable post-stroke.

Long-term restrictions in participation in stroke survivors under and over 70 years of age.

Purpose: This study aims to (1) assess differences in participation restrictions between stroke survivors aged under and over 70 years and (2) identify predictors associated with favorable and unfavorable long-term participation in both age groups.

Methods: Prospective cohort study in which 326 patients were assessed at stroke onset, two months and one year after stroke. The Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation (USER-Participation) was used to measure participation restrictions one year after stroke.

Temporal Evolution of Poststroke Cognitive Impairment Using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Background And Purpose: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is nowadays recommended for the screening of poststroke cognitive impairment. However, little is known about the temporal evolution of MoCA-assessed cognition after stroke. The objective of this study was to examine the temporal pattern of overall and domain-specific cognition at 2 and 6 months after stroke using the MoCA and to identify patient groups at risk for cognitive impairment at 6 months after stroke.

Caregiver burden and emotional problems in partners of stroke patients at two months and one year post-stroke: Determinants and prediction.

Objectives: (a) To determine levels of and factors explaining partners' burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms at two months post-stroke, (b) to predict partners' burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms at one year post-stroke based on patient and partner characteristics available at two months post-stroke.

Methods: Prospective cohort study. Partners of stroke patients (N=183) were included.

Risk Factors for Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety One Year Poststroke: A Longitudinal Study.

Objective: To estimate the relative contribution of psychological factors next to sociodemographic and premorbid/stroke-related factors to the risk of developing symptoms of depression and anxiety after stroke.

Design: Multicenter, longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: Patients after stroke from 6 general hospitals.

Quality of Life during the First Two Years Post Stroke: The Restore4Stroke Cohort Study.

Background: Little information is available about the course of quality of life (QoL) post stroke and how dependency on activities of daily living (ADL) influences this course. The aim of this study was therefore to describe the course of QoL from 2 months up to 2 years post stroke and to study the influence of ADL dependency in the first week post stroke.

Methods: This is a multicenter prospective longitudinal cohort study in which 368 stroke patients were included and data were collected at 1 week, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months post stroke.

Psychological factors determine depressive symptomatology after stroke.

Objective: To identify psychological factors related to poststroke depressive symptoms.

Design: Cross-sectional study, with patients assessed at 2 months poststroke.

Setting: Patients with stroke from 6 general hospitals.

Does the frequency of participation change after stroke and is this change associated with the subjective experience of participation?

Objective: To investigate changes in the frequency of participation 6 months poststroke compared with prestroke; and to establish whether the change is associated with participation restrictions and satisfaction with participation 6 months poststroke.

Design: Inception cohort study. Prestroke frequency of participation was measured retrospectively in the first week poststroke.

The influence of psychological factors on health-related quality of life after stroke: a systematic review.

Background And Purpose: Many stroke patients experience problems with health-related quality of life, but much of the variance of health-related quality of life after stroke remains unexplained. Health-related quality of life may be influenced by psychological factors, as these factors reflect the way people approach situations and react to stressful situations. The aim of this study was to systematically examine the relationship between psychological factors and health-related quality of life after stroke.

Associations between social support and stroke survivors' health-related quality of life--a systematic review.

Objective: Social support to stroke survivors has been recognized as an important determinant of their health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but this relationship is not clarified to date. More insight in the relationships between various types (i.e.

A longitudinal cohort study on quality of life in stroke patients and their partners: Restore4Stroke Cohort.

Background: Stroke is a major cause of disability in the Western world. Its long-term consequences have a negative impact on the quality of life of both the patients and their partners.

Aim: The aim of the Restore4Stroke Cohort study is to investigate the changes in quality of life of stroke patients and their partners over time, and to determine factors predicting quality of life in several domains, especially personal and environmental factors.