Psychological well-being 3 years after severe stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Stroke often has a very negative influence on the victims' perception of their life situation. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the subjects' long-term psychological well-being and to explore associations between subject characteristics, impairments, disabilities, and psychological well-being. METHODS Of 100 subjects rehabilitated at a specialized geriatric stroke ward after the acute phase, 47 survivors were assessed in their homes 3 years after discharge and interviewed regarding their psychological well-being with the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS). RESULTS Sixty-four percent of the subjects were classified as having high scores for psychological well-being or fell within the middle range. In a cluster analysis, depression was shown to have the strongest association with the subjects' PGCMS scores. Variables including the subjects' social situation and functions as well as age, gender, ability to communicate, and need for help showed a much weaker association with the PGCMS. CONCLUSIONS More than half of the stroke subjects were classified as having levels of psychological well-being that were good or fairly good. The strong association between PGCMS scores and depression indicates the importance of detecting and treating depression and of following up initiated therapy after stroke.