Authors: (including presenting author): :
TSANG SM, LEUNG HM, KWAN CH, CHAN TS, CHAN YK, PANG HSI, WAN MC
Affiliation: :
Department of Medicine & Geriatrics, Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals
Keyword 3: :
post-stroke depression
Keyword 4: :
non-elderly stroke patients
Introduction: :
Post stroke depression (PSD) is common complication following a stroke, affecting one-third of post stroke patients. It is associated with a higher risk of recurrent stroke, poor prognosis, reduced quality of life and even increased mortality. Early detection and intervention are important. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a standard screening tool for PSD in geriatric patients at Stroke Rehabilitation Unit (SRU). As the number of young stroke increases, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9, which is primarily developed for primary care setting with no age restriction, has been introduced to SRU. However, the use of GDS and PHQ-9 in SRU for young patient is not standardized. The aim of this study is to standardize one screening tool for PSD in young stroke patients.
Objectives: :
-To compare the results of GDS and PHQ-9 of young stroke patients in the SRU
-To analyze the correlation between both screening tools in identifying depressive symptoms in those patients
Methodology: :
From May 2024 to Oct 2025, patients aged below 65 and admitted to SRU in 2 rehabilitation wards were recruited. Both GDS and PHQ-9 were performed at admission and before discharge from SRU. Cut-off scores of 8 and 10 were used for GDS and PHQ-9 respectively. The Pearson correlation test was used to examine the correlation between the 2 assessment tools.
Result & Outcome: :
Total 52 patients aged from 38 to 64 (average age: 56.4) were included, comprising 39 males and 13 females. Only 39 pairs of admission score and 40 pairs of discharge scores were analyzed because of communication failure, incomplete records and patients not yet discharged. In the admission phase, 5 patients were identified as at risk of depression by GDS and 2 patients by PHQ-9. In the discharge phase, 2 patients were at risk of depression by GDS and 1 patient in PHQ-9. There were 4 cases screened as at risk of depression in GDS but not at risk in PHQ-9. GDS and PHQ-9 demonstrated a strong correlation in admission phase (r=0.61, p< 0.01) and in discharge phase (r=0.7, p< 0.01). As the young stroke patients report higher scores in GDS, they are more likely to report higher score in PHQ-9, showing a significant positive relationship. In our sample, GDS is more inclusive than PHQ-9 which makes it suitable as a screening tool of PSD to allow further assessment and intervention. Based on these findings, GDS is recommended as the standard PSD screening tool for young stroke patients in SRU.
