Fawad Suleman Roonjho, Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, Muhammad Ilyas Jat, Amjad Hakro, Washdev Washdev, Ammarrah Badar.
Depressive Disorder among Spouses of Stroke patients.
J Pak Psych Soc Jan ;17(4):20-4.

OBJECTIVE: To determine frequency of depressive disorder among spouses of stroke patients at follow-up in tertiary care public hospital. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF THE STUDY: Out-patient department of Medicine and Neurology Departments, JPMC Karachi, Pakistan, for the period of six months i.e. 1st April 2016 to 30th Sep 2016. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Total of 145 spouses of diagnosed stroke patients were included in the study. Criteria to include were spouses of the patients who were brought for follow-up at concerned OPD, at least after two weeks of diagnosis of stroke both ischemic and hemorrhagic, having ages between 18 to 60 years, both male and female spouses, Diagnosis of depressive disorder was based on applying patient health quesstionnare-09, (PHQ-9). RESULTS: A total of 145 spouses of diagnosed cases of stroke were recruited in the study with 65 (44.8%) males and 80 (55.2%) females. According to PHQ-9, Out of 145 spouses, 73 (50.3%) had minimal or no depressive disorder while 26 (17.9%) had major depressive disorder or very severe depression, 46 (31.6%) had other depressive disorder as per PHQ-9 that includes mild, moderate and moderately severe depressive disorder, so totally 72 (49.7%) had depressive disorder. CONCLUSION: In developing country like Pakistan where emotional health of an individual is often neglected, even during stressful situations like persistent disability of spouse which can be a turmoil in anyone's life, therefore the issues related to emotional wellbeing are poorly addressed and this study reveals high prevalence of depression among spouses of stroke patients.

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