Pontine Microbleeds and Depression in Stroke

This is just so goddamned f*cking simple to identify the problem. Currently our doctors do not give us any objective diagnosis or any proven repeatable way to recover.  With such lack of information depression is inevitable. Stop the neuronal cascade of death and survivors will be much less disabled and less likely to get depressed. Solve the correct problem you blasted idiots.
http://jgp.sagepub.com/content/27/3/159?etoc

1. W. K. Tang, MD1⇑
2. X. X. Liu, MPhil1
3. Y. K. Chen, PhD2
4. J. Abrigo, MD3
5. Winnie C. W. Chu, MD3
6. V. C. T. Mok, MD4
7. Gabor S. Ungvari, MD, PhD5,6
8. K. S. Wong, MD4

1. ¹Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
2. ²Department of Neurology, Dongguan People’s Hospital, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
3. ³Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
4. ⁴Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
5. ⁵The University of Notre Dame Australia/Marian Centre, Perth, Australia
6. ⁶School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Western Australia, Pert, Australia

1. W. K. Tang, Department of Psychiatry, Shatin Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China. Email: tangwk@cuhk.edu.hk

Abstract

Objectives: Depression is the most common affective disorder following stroke yet the neuroanatomical model of poststroke depression (PSD) remains unclear. This study examined the association between PSD and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and hypothesized that CMBs in specific regions would be associated with PSD.

Methods: Of the 4766 patients with first ever or recurrent acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Acute Stroke Unit of the Prince of Wales Hospital between June 2004 and October 2010, 229 met the entry criteria and formed the study sample. Patients with a Geriatric Depression Scale score of 7 or above were classified as having PSD. The presence and location of CMBs were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging.

Results: Compared to the non-PSD group, patients with PSD were more likely to have pontine CMBs (32.0% vs 18.2%; P = .019). The presence of pontine CMBs remained an independent predictor of PSD in the multivariate analysis, with an odds ratio of 2.2 (P = .016).

Conclusion: The results suggest that pontine CMBs are associated with a higher risk of developing PSD.