Affiliations: Research Center for Neuropsychology, Department of
Neuroscience, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Davide Quaranta, Department of
Neuroscience, Catholic University, Largo Agostino Gemelli, 1, 00168 –
Rome, Italy. Tel.: +39 6 3015 4435; Fax: +39 6 3015 4029; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the principal psychopathological
dimensions of post-stroke depression (PSD) through the assessment of the
factorial structure of the Post-Stroke Depression Rating Scale (PSDRS). Methods: We enrolled ninety-eight subjects with PSD, who underwent
the PSDRS, MMSE and Barthel Index. Information about demographic, clinical, and
neuroanatomical factors was collected. Results: The factor analysis extracted three factors accounting for
63.4% of the total variance, and identified as: 1) "Depressive and Anxious
Symptoms" (DAS); 2) "Lack of Emotional Control" (LEC); 3) "Reduced Motivation"
(RM). On multivariate statistics, DAS severity was predicted by previous
history of mood disorders and Barthel Index; LEC severity was predicted by
Barthel Index; RM severity was predicted by age. Conclusions: The PSDRS displayed a reliable factor structure that
agreed with previous interpretation of PSD. In particular, core depressive
symptoms seem to be related to premorbid personality and functional status,
whereas apathy/anhedonia may be connected to brain aging.
Keywords: Post-stroke depression, Post stroke depression Rating Scale, factor analysis
