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The prevalence of major depression was 25%at the acute stage and approximately the same at 3 months(31%).It decreased to 16%at 12 months, was 19%at 2 years,and increased to 29%at 3 years.The most important predictors of immediate major depression were left anterior brain lesion, dysphasia,and living alone.Dependence in activities of daily living was the most important predictor at 3 months.From 12 months on,the patient's having few social contacts outside the immediate family contributed most to depression,and at 3 years cerebral atrophy also contributed.At 1 year, 60%of the patients with early depression(0 to 3 months)had recovered;those not recovered at this follow-up had a high risk of development of chronic depression.The study has provided evidence of a differentiation of factors likely to be implicated in the development of depression after stroke based on the period of time since the stroke event. |
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