Depression after stroke: the importance of cerebral hemisphere asymmetries

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1991 Summer;3(3):276-85. doi: 10.1176/jnp.3.3.276.

Abstract

The pattern of brain asymmetries was visualized on computed tomography (CT) scan in patients with a single acute cerebrovascular lesion. Patients were divided into those with typical or reversed frontal and/or occipital asymmetries. Among patients with a typical occipital asymmetry, those with left frontal or left basal ganglia lesions showed a significantly higher frequency of major depression and significantly higher depression scores than patients with similar lesion location but with reversed occipital asymmetry or those with a typical asymmetry and lesions in other (left or right) brain areas. Among patients with a reversed occipital asymmetry, there was no significant association between left frontal or left basal ganglia lesions and depression. This study demonstrates that the previously reported significant association between post-stroke major depression and lesion location is restricted to patients with a typical occipital asymmetry and is not present in patients with a reversed occipital asymmetry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aphasia, Broca / diagnosis
  • Aphasia, Broca / physiopathology
  • Aphasia, Broca / psychology
  • Basal Ganglia / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / diagnosis
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / psychology
  • Cerebral Infarction / diagnosis
  • Cerebral Infarction / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Infarction / psychology
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology*
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / diagnosis
  • Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / physiopathology
  • Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / psychology
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / diagnosis
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / psychology
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Occipital Lobe / physiopathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed