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Background: Although SSRIs are no longer widely prescribed for post-stroke motor recovery, fluoxetine demonstrated beneficial effects on post-stroke depression (PSD). Given the potential side effects of SSRIs, targeted initiation among individuals at highest risk for PSD warrants consideration. While previous studies have identified stroke severity and psychiatric history as factors associated with PSD, its predictability remains unknown. In this study, we investigate inpatient predictive factors to better identify individuals who might derive the most benefit from targeted initiation of SSRIs. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively-collected registry of adult patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke to a tertiary referral urban academic comprehensive stroke center between 2016–2020. Patients were seen 4–6 weeks post-discharge and administered the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) to screen for PSD (PHQ-9 ≥ 5). Demographics, history of depression, stroke severity, and inpatient PHQ-9 scores were abstracted. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with PSD and an ROC analysis determined the predictability of PSD in the inpatient setting. Results: Three hundred seven individuals were administered the PHQ-9 at follow-up (mean age 65.5 years, 52% female). History of depression (OR = 4.11, 95% CI: 1.65–10.26) and inpatient PHQ-9 score (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.06–1.30) were significantly associated with PSD. Stroke severity, marital status, living alone, employment, and outpatient therapy were not associated with PSD. The ROC curve using a positive inpatient PHQ-9 achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.65 (95% CI: 0.60–0.70), while the AUC was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.66–0.77) after adding history of depression. Conclusions: History of depression and a positive inpatient PHQ-9 appear to be most strongly predictive of long-term PSD. Initiating SSRIs only in those individuals at highest risk for PSD may help reduce the burden of stroke recovery in this targeted population while minimizing adverse side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : Previous studies have indicated that focal brain damage can result in different types of “neglect dyslexia” (reading errors specific to the side of printed material contralateral to the side of brain damage). Aims : To identify the sites of lesions (or dysfunctional brain tissue) responsible for distinct types of neglect dyslexia, to inform a functional neuroanatomical model of brain regions involved in early stages of reading. Methods & Procedures : A battery of tests of hemispatial neglect and reading designed to distinguish neglect dyslexia in different reference frames (viewer-centred, stimulus-centred, and object-centred) was administered to 95 patients within 48 hours of onset of nondominant hemisphere stroke. Magnetic resonance diffusion and perfusion imaging was obtained on the same day as testing. Associations between each type of neglect dyslexia and areas of hypoperfusion and/or infarct were evaluated using chi-squared tests. Outcomes & Results : Viewer-centred neglect dyslexia was associated with hypoperfusion and/or infarct in right angular and supramarginal gyri and visual association cortex (“dorsal stream”). Stimulus-centred neglect dyslexia was associated with hypoperfusion and/or infarct of right superior temporal cortex (“ventral stream”). Object-centred neglect dyslexia was observed only with hypoperfusion and/or infarct of non-dominant superior temporal cortex in left-handed individuals. Conclusions : The identified associations provide evidence that different regions of cortex are critical for spatial attention to, or processing of, representations of words with distinct coordinate frames in the reading task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]