Factors associated with mental health service access among Australian community-dwelling survivors of stroke

CONCLUSIONS: Many stroke survivors have untreated depression/anxiety. Primary care practitioners should be supported in undertaking effective detection and management. Older and newly diagnosed individuals should be educated about depression/anxiety and available supports.Implications for rehabilitationPrimary care providers play a pivotal role in the pathway to mental health care, and therefore should always screen for depression/anxiety and provide comprehensive assessment and referral to specialist services where necessary.Targeted psychoeducation should be provided to survivors of stroke who are older and newly diagnosed with depression/anxiety, to increase awareness about mood problems following stroke.Primary care providers should collaborate with other health professionals (e.g., through coordinating a team care arrangement plan), to address patients' multiple and complex rehabilitation needs.Rehabilitation professionals should remain informed about current evidence-based treatments for post-stroke depression/anxiety and pathways that enable their patients to access these services.PMID:35139002 | DOI:10.1080/09638288.2022.2032413

Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - February 9, 2022 Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Priscilla Tjokrowijoto Renerus J Stolwyk David Ung Monique F Kilkenny Joosup Kim Lachlan L Dalli Dominique A Cadilhac Nadine E Andrew Source Type: research