Stroke is associated with a rise in post-stroke depression (PSD) and anxiety (PSA). The study shows the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the rates of PSD and PSA.
The rise in PSD is related to stroke severity and this has not changed significantly during the pandemic; however, PSA showed a noticeable peak. Social deprivation and the lacking levels of rehabilitation related significantly to both.
The higher rates of anxiety during the pandemic are important to recognize and it is likely related to the social deprivation and the lack of rehabilitation services. Early recognition and treatment of this may limit the consequences associated with those disorders.
It is very important to families or even medical institutions to give value and take care of stroke patients during this high-risk pandemic era.
