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World J Meta-Anal. Aug 26, 2014; 2(3): 49-63
Published online Aug 26, 2014. doi: 10.13105/wjma.v2.i3.49
Published online Aug 26, 2014. doi: 10.13105/wjma.v2.i3.49
Stroke and depression: A bidirectional link
Elisabetta Del Zotto, U.O. di Recupero e Rieducazione Funzionale, IRCCS Fondazione Don Gnocchi, 20148 Milano, Italy
Paolo Costa, Andrea Morotti, Loris Poli, Valeria de Giuli, Irene Volonghi, Alessandro Padovani, Alessandro Pezzini, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Sperimentali, Clinica Neurologica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Alessia Giossi, U.O Neurologia, Istituto Clinico “S. Anna”, 25127 Brescia, Italy
Antonio Callea, Dipartimento Fisiopatologia Medico-Chirurgica e dei Trapianti, Sezione di Neuroscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy
Author contributions: Del Zotto E, Costa P, Morotti A, Poli L, de Giuli V, Giossi A, Volonghi I, Callea A, Padovani A and Pezzini A contributed to this paper; with substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and with final approval of the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Alessandro Pezzini, MD, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Sperimentali, Clinica Neurologica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy. ale_pezzini@hotmail.com
Telephone: +39-30-3384086 Fax: +39-30-3384086
Received: March 10, 2014
Revised: May 23, 2014
Accepted: June 10, 2014
Published online: August 26, 2014
Revised: May 23, 2014
Accepted: June 10, 2014
Published online: August 26, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: A number of studies have assessed the influence of depression on the risk of cardiovascular disease. A growing literature indicates a link between depression and cerebrovascular events, although the direction of this association remains unclear. Numerous data have emerged suggesting an association between depressive symptoms and subsequent risk of stroke, thus leading to the hypothesis that a direct causality between depression and stroke exists. Depression has been also established as an important consequence after stroke, affecting functional recovery and quality of life. Contemporary epidemiologic studies, potential mechanisms and specific aspects of the complex relation between depression and stroke will be discussed.