Depressive syndromes in neurological disorders

Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2013 Nov:263 Suppl 2:S123-36. doi: 10.1007/s00406-013-0448-6.

Abstract

Depressive syndromes represent a common and often characteristic feature in a number of neurological disorders. One prominent example is the development of post-stroke depression, which can be observed in more than one-third of stroke survivors in the aftermath of an ischemic stroke. Thus, post-stroke depression represents one of the most prevalent, disabling, and potentially devastating psychiatric post-stroke complications. On the other hand, depressive syndromes may also be considered as a risk factor for certain neurological disorders, as recently revealed by a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies, which demonstrated an increased risk for ischemic events in depressed patients. Moreover, depressive syndromes represent common comorbidities in a number of other neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or epilepsy, in which depression has a strong impact on both quality of life and outcome of the primary neurological disorder.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder / etiology*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology*
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy
  • Epilepsy / complications
  • Epilepsy / epidemiology
  • Epilepsy / psychology
  • Humans
  • Multiple Sclerosis / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis / epidemiology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / psychology
  • Nervous System Diseases / complications*
  • Nervous System Diseases / epidemiology
  • Nervous System Diseases / psychology*
  • Nervous System Diseases / therapy
  • Parkinson Disease / complications
  • Parkinson Disease / epidemiology
  • Parkinson Disease / psychology
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke / complications
  • Stroke / epidemiology
  • Stroke / psychology