Biomedical subjects

J Legh-Smith

Publications and source records attributed to J Legh-Smith.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1987

Depressed mood after stroke. A community study of its frequency.

A community study on stroke registered 976 patients. Over 60% of survivors at three weeks, six months and 12 months after the stroke were assessed for depressed mood, using the Wakefield self-assessment depression inventory, and on other functional and social activities. At each point, 25-30% of those assessed were depressed; over 50% of patients depressed at three weeks remained so at one year. Factors associated with depression included loss of functional independence, a low level of other activities, a low reasoning ability, and being female and living with someone; path analysis showed that most depression was not explained by these factors. Few depressed patients at six months were on antidepressant medication.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1986

Effects of living with and looking after survivors of a stroke.

Information from a two year, longitudinal study on a community sample of patients with acute stroke was analysed to determine the effects of the stroke on the mood of the chief carer (the person living with the patient). Increased anxiety was the most commonly reported change six months after stroke. Significant depression was seen in 11-13% of carers over the first two years after stroke. The patient's functional disability was associated with depression in the carer over the first year but not at two years. A perceived poor recovery by the patient, a low level of general activities by the patient, and depression in the patient were also associated with depression in the carer within the first year. At two years after stroke none of the measured factors were related to a carer's level of depression. Carers of patients who have suffered stroke showed anxiety and emotional distress unrelated to the patient's physical disability after two years. More help from stroke support groups for carers is perhaps needed.

Cerebrovascular Disorders↗

PubMed1986

Services for stroke patients one year after stroke.

The use of community services by stroke patients was investigated one year after their stroke. Survivors from a register of all patients from a defined community were followed up one year after their stroke. Four hundred and thirty six of the 492 survivors were seen: 301 lived at home with someone, 82 lived at home alone, and 53 were in long-stay care. One hundred and forty seven (38%) of those at home were visited by one or more community services, the major ones being district nurse (73), home help (73), day centres (42), and meals on wheels (30). Analysis suggests that these services reach the patients who need most help. However, some 57 (19%) disabled patients are being looked after at home without any outside help.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1986

Driving after a stroke.

Four hundred and thirty-eight stroke patients from a community register covering a period of 28 months were interviewed at one year post-stroke. Of 144 (34%) living at home who had been driving prior to their stroke, 82 (58%) did not resume post-stroke. Assessments of arm function, walking, functional ability and IQ showed ex-drivers to be significantly more disabled than drivers. Stopping driving was associated with a loss of social activities and with a higher frequency of depression amongst ex-drivers when compared with drivers. This was despite 79% of ex-drivers having easy access to alternative car transport. Extending mobility allowance to the 49 (60%) ex-drivers over 65 years old at the time of their stroke might ease their situation. More appropriate assessments would be needed to establish whether ex-drivers would benefit from retraining or car adaptations to enable them to return to driving.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1985

Social activities after stroke: measurement and natural history using the Frenchay Activities Index.

A method of assessing general (i.e. other than personal care) activities of stroke patients is described: the Frenchay Activities Index (FAI), a scale comprising 15 individual activities summed to give an overall score from 0 (low) to 45 (high). Data from 976 patients with acute stroke were analysed to establish the validity and reliability of the index, and to give information on the level of activities seen before stroke, at 6 months and 1 year post-stroke. Factors related to a lower overall score included loss of functional (ADL) ability, more depression, a lower IQ and, at 1 year, being female.

Activities of Daily Living↗