Abstract

Background: Depression among stroke survivors confers greater disability, poorer quality of life, poorer functional outcomes, and is also associated with a higher risk of engaging in suicidal behaviour (suicidal ideation and suicide attempt). The burden and risk factors for suicidal behaviour among this population are, however, not fully identified. This study determined the prevalence of suicidal behaviour and its socio-demographic correlates among patients with post-stroke depression (PSD) in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Lagos, Nigeria.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 89 consecutively selected patients with a diagnosis of PSD at the outpatient clinic of LASUTH. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of the hospital (LREC/06/10/1572). The study involved diagnosing PSD in stroke survivors using the depression module of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Inventory and administration of a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Beck Scale of Suicidal Ideation to participants.

Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt among patients with PSD was 54% and 20% respectively. Attaining secondary level of education was significantly associated with both suicidal ideation (p=0.003) and suicidal attempt (p=0.038). It was, however, not an independent predictor of suicidal behaviour on regression analysis.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of suicidal behaviour and the identification of its socio-demographic risk factor further emphasizes the role of depression in the development of suicidality and also highlights a potential risk pathway for mortality among stroke survivors. Prompt identification and treatment of PSD alongside screening for suicidal behaviour may be effective ways to reduce mortality rate among stroke survivors.

Key words: Post-Stroke depression; Suicidal behaviour; Suicidal ideation, Stroke survivor; Sociodemographic factors.