Effect of an Interventional Programme on Post Stroke Depression among Stroke Survivors in a Tertiary Care Centre, Thiruvananthapuram

Abstract

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in India. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stroke is projected to become one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Post-stroke depression (PSD) affects approximately 32.9%–35.9% of stroke survivors, which is considerably higher than the prevalence of depression in the general population (10%). PSD is associated with cognitive dysfunction, impaired recovery of activities of daily living (ADL), and increased mortality. This study aimed to assess the effect of an interventional programme on post-stroke depression among stroke survivors attending a tertiary care hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. The conceptual framework was based on Betty Neuman's Systems Model.
A quantitative research approach with a one-group pre-test post-test design was adopted. Forty-five post-stroke survivors were selected using consecutive sampling. The study was conducted in the Neurology Outpatient Department and Neuromedicine Ward of Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. Data were collected using three tools: (1) Socio-demographic and Clinical Data Sheet, (2) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and (3) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Following the pre-test, participants received an interventional programme consisting of education regarding stroke management and rehabilitation using flash cards, followed by instructions for music therapy. Post-test assessment was conducted three weeks later during follow-up visits.
Among the 45 participants, 91.1% had moderate-to-severe depression during the pre-test, which decreased to 57.8% during the post-test. The mean depression score decreased significantly from 22.62 ± 2.79 to 18.89 ± 2.77 following the intervention (p < 0.001). The interventional programme, including music therapy, was effective in significantly reducing post-stroke depression among stroke survivors.