A Study of Suicidal Ideation risks in Stroke survivors

Abstract

Stroke heightens suicide risk via post-stroke depression and physical disabilities. Globally, strokes affect 15 million annually, causing 5 million deaths and disabilities. Suicidal thoughts, common in younger survivors, relate to depression, isolation, and socioeconomic factors. Research compares these thoughts between stroke patients and others, exploring influencing factors. This study aimed to investigate three primary objectives: comparing suicidal ideation between stroke patients and healthy individuals, evaluating variations in suicidal ideation across different types of stroke, and exploring the associations among sociodemographic factors, severity of physical disability, comorbid medical conditions in stroke patients, and the presence of suicidal thoughts. Subject and methods: The study encompassed two primary groups: the studied comprised patients diagnosed various types of cerebrovascular stroke (embolic, thrombotic ischemic, and hemorrhagic) affecting different brain regions (frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes), while the control consisted of a matched sample from the general population in terms of age and sex. Results: The study compared demographic data between stroke patients and controls, revealing that the mean age slightly higher in the stroke (51.7 ± 9.2 ) than in the control (50.1 ± 12.2 ), but this not statistically (p = 0.180). Conclusions: A study of 320 stroke survivors highlighted correlations between demographics, stroke characteristics, and mental health vulnerabilities, particularly linking mood disorders and emotional instability to increased suicidal ideation severity. Marriage identified as a protective factor, highlighting the crucial role of social support in post-stroke mental health.