Post-stroke Depression in Adults Participating in a Culturally Tailored, Skills-based Intervention Program

Date of Submission

2020

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, ABPP

First Advisor

Michelle R. Lent, PhD

Second Advisor

Bruce S. Zahn, Ed.D., ABPP

Third Advisor

Bernadette Boden-Albala, MPH, DrPH

Abstract

Poststroke Depression (PSD) is common, affecting approximately one-third of stroke survivors at any one time after stroke. Individuals with PSD are at a higher risk for physical and functional disability, suboptimal recovery, recurrent vascular events, poor quality of life, and mortality. Although PSD is prevalent, evidence-based strategies for prevention and treatments are scarce. The present study investigated the impact of a skills-based, culturally tailored intervention on depression symptomology compared to a control group. This study also investigated if individuals with comorbid depression experienced significant improvements in depression symptomology at six months compared to baseline. Finally, the current study explored whether Hispanic participants benefited more from the intervention by demonstrating a greater reduction in depression symptomology compared to other races/ethnicities. Results indicated no significant reductions in depression scores in the intervention group compared to the control group (p  >  0.05). Individuals with comorbid depression demonstrated a significant reduction in depression scores at six months compared to baseline (p  <    0.05). Finally, no significant depression reduction was found in Hispanics compared to other races and ethnicities (p  >  0.05). Although the results did not indicate the overall superiority of a skills-based, culturally tailored intervention over the usual care group, a significant reduction of depression scores emerged in the comorbid depression group. During PSD, interventions that are skills-based and contain narratives may be essential in meeting the needs of this at risk population in improving their affect, their rehabilitation, and their quality of life.

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