Citation

Wai-Kwong T, Huajun L, Vincent M, Gabor S U, Ka-Sing W. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2013; 94(5): 863-866.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: tangwk@cuhk.edu.hk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.apmr.2012.11.044

PMID

23262382

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between poststroke pain and suicidality (SI) in Chinese patients with first or recurrent stroke. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey SETTING: Acute Stroke Unit of a university-affiliated general hospital in Hong Kong PARTICIPANTS: A total of 496 patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Acute Stroke Unit. Interventions: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were interviewed 3 months after the index stroke. SI was assessed with the Geriatric Mental State Examination. Pain was evaluated with the Faces Pain Rating Scale-Revised (FPS-R). The association between FPS-R scores and SI were examined and adjusted for potential confounders, including marital status, depression, neurological deficits assessed by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale and functioning measured by the Barthel Index. RESULTS: Thirty-seven (7.5%) of the patients had SI (SI group). Compared to the non-SI group, patients in the SI group were more likely to experience pain (59.5% vs 37.7%), had a higher mean FPS-R score (6.0+2.5 versus 4.5+2.3) and had a FPS-R score >4 (43.2% vs 15.9%). After adjustment for possible confounders, the FPS-R score >4 (odds ratio=2.9) remained a significant predictor of suicidality in the subsequent forward logistic regression models. CONCLUSIONS: These findings should alert clinicians that the early identification and treatment of pain may reduce suicide risk in stroke patients.

Language: en