RESUMEN
The objective of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of minor depression after stroke and to compare this disorder with poststroke major depression and the nondepressed state. Ninety-four stroke inpatients were examined 8 weeks after stroke and reexamined 15 months later. Twenty-one (22%) of the 94 patients suffered from minor depression, 14 (15%) suffered from major depression, and 59 (63%) were not depressed. Minor depressed patients were twice as symptomatic as nondepressed patients but were only half as symptomatic as major depressed patients. Minor depressed patients were more likely than nondepressed patients to have a previous history of stroke and were more physically disabled. They were less likely than major depressed patients to have a family history of affective disorder. Depression symptom severity was associated with greater physical disability among minor but not major depressed patients. Fewer minor than major depressed patients were depressed at 15 months. These findings suggest that poststroke major and minor depression may be different depressive syndromes. Some cases of minor depression may be construed as an adjustment reaction to stroke disability.
Asunto(s)
Trastorno Depresivo/diagnóstico , Escalas de Valoración Psiquiátrica/estadística & datos numéricos , Accidente Cerebrovascular/complicaciones , Anciano , Trastorno Depresivo/clasificación , Trastorno Depresivo/epidemiología , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Familia , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Lateralidad Funcional , Humanos , Masculino , Prevalencia , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Accidente Cerebrovascular/psicologíaRESUMEN
In rebuttal to the recent article by Garwood (1977), this paper presents a framework for evaluating the usefulness of the Rorschach Prognostic Rating Scale for predicting success in psychotherapy. A critical review of the research findings cited by Garwood is presented, followed by a discussion of the overall usefulness of the instrument as a predictive measure in light of the framework suggested. It is concluded the scale is not yet proven to be of great clinical usefulness, as its degree of discriminability is not great enough for basing clinical judgments.