PhD conferral Ms Elles Douven, MSc.

“DEPRESSION AND APATHY AFTER STROKE; The influence of risk factors on their development and course”

Keywords: stroke, depression, apathy

Depression and apathy are common symptoms after a stroke and can negatively affect the rehabilitation process. This dissertation examined the influence of biological and psychosocial risk factors on the development and progression of depression and apathy after a stroke. The results reveal differences in the risk factors associated with depression and apathy, which supports the hypothesis that apathy can develop independent of depression. The findings in this dissertation improve our understanding of the etiology of these syndromes and help clinicians make a diagnostic distinction between depression and apathy, which in turn helps to develop more targeted treatment strategies.