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Few previous investigations have focused on post-stroke anxiety (PSA) predictors in mild stroke patients. The aim of the study was to determine whether anxiety-related psychological symptoms and psychomotor agitation predict PSA. We compared 10 anxious and 10 non-anxious patients at 6 months post-stroke (T2) to their psychological anxiety and psychomotor agitation levels 3 months earlier (T1). Anxious patients had more psychological anxiety symptoms than non-anxious patients. Overall T2 anxiety was strongly correlated with T1 psychological anxiety. Thus, psychological symptoms are a better predictor of PSA than somatic symptoms of anxiety. Those results could improve PSA diagnosis and prognosis by directing clinicians to pay particular attention to psychological anxiety after a stroke, even in early discharged patients with complete functional recovery.

Context: Stroke has several consequences on survivors’ daily life even for those who experience short-lasting neurological symptoms with no functional disability. Depression and anxiety are common psychological disorders occurring after a stroke. They affect long-term outcomes and quality of life but they are difficult to diagnose because of the neurobiological consequences of brain lesions. Current research priority is given to the improvement of the detection and prevention of those post-stroke psychological disorders. Although previous studies have brought promising perspectives, their designs based on retrospective tools involve some limits regarding their ecological validity. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) is an alternative to conventional instruments that could be a key in research for understanding processes that underlined post-stroke depression and anxiety onset. We aim to evaluate the feasibility and validity of anxiety, depression and coping EMA for minor stroke patients.Methods: Patients hospitalized in an Intensive Neuro-vascular Care Unit between April 2016 and January 2017 for a minor stroke is involved in a study based on an EMA methodology. We use a smartphone application in order to assess anxiety and depression symptoms and coping strategies four times a day during 1 week at three different times after stroke (hospital discharge, 2 and 4 months). Participants’ self-reports and clinician-rates of anxiety, depression and coping are collected simultaneously using conventional and standard instruments. Feasibility of the EMA method will be assessed considering the participation and compliance rate. Validity will be the assessed by comparing EMA and conventional self-report and clinician-rated measures.Discussion: We expect this study to contribute to the development of EMA using smartphone in minor stroke population. EMA method offers promising research perspective in the assessment and understanding of post-stroke psychological disorders. The development of EMA in stroke population could lead to clinical implications such as remotely psychological follow-ups during early supported discharge.Trial registration: European Clinical Trials Database Number 2014-A01937-40