Post-stroke fatigue, depression, emotional incontinence, and anger-proneness

뇌졸중 후 후유증: 피로, 우울, 감정조절 장애, 분노 조절 장애를 중심으로

Stroke patients often develop post stroke sequelae when they survive. Post stroke fatigue and emotional disturbances including depression are common along with motor dysfunction. However, medical personnel have paid relatively little attention to emotional changes and the presence of fatigue following strokes. Post-stroke fatigue was common, occurring in 57% of the patients in our series. The post-stroke fatigue appears to be related to the pre-stroke fatigue, physical disability and post stroke depression (PSD) although the relation to the lesion location remains elusive. The prevalence of post-stroke emotional disturbance has been reported to range from 12% to 64%. The wide variation in the frequency of post stroke depression may be related to methodological heterogeneity in items such as the criteria for depression, the timing of assessment, and the study population. Emotional incontinence, which is characterized by inappropriate or excessive laughing or crying is also common. The incidence of and factor related to this post-stroke emotional incontinence (PSEI) also remains unclear. We reported that out-patients with single, unilateral stroke, 18% had PSD and 34% had PSEI. Although both PSD and PSEI were related to motor dysfunction and location (anterior vs. posterior cortex) of the lesion, the latter was a stronger determinant for PSD. PSEI was more closely associated with subcortical strokes than was PSD. Another manifestation of post stroke patients is the occurrence of post stroke anger proneness (PSAP). They may become easily irritated, impulsive, less generous, and prone to be angry or aggressive at others. We also have reported the PSAP which seems to be closely associated with the presence of PSEI. The lesion distribution appears to be also similar. Both PSEI and PSAP respond well to serotonin reuptake inhibitors suggesting that these symptomsmay be possibly related to the alteration of serotonin after brain injury. Likewise, PSAP also produces a great deal of frustration and embarrassment among patients and caregivers. In summary, emotional disturbances such as depression, emotional incontinence, anger-proneness and fatigue are fairly common but under-recognized sequelae of stroke. These emotional disturbances decrease the quality of life of the patients and caregivers, and may adversely affect the overall prognosis. Therefore, these problems must be appropriately recognized and alleviated. Finding strategies to relieve the symptoms is imperative by understanding the causative factors in individual patient.