Neuropsychological and Quality-of-Life Outcomes After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Moderate or severe depressive symptoms were common among aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage survivors.

• Of 318 patients included, 242 completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life scale.
• Moderate depressive symptoms were reported by 18% of patients, and severe symptoms by 11%.
• Patients came from the Brain Aneurysm Foundation patient registry; the study was cross-sectional.

Impairments in thinking, social roles, language, and energy were independently associated with reduced work productivity.

• Multiple linear regression was used to identify symptoms associated with reduced work productivity.
• Work productivity was assessed in the context of Stroke-Specific Quality of Life domains.
• The abstract reports these four domains as independent associations.

Acquired personality disturbances were frequent according to family member reports.

• 112 family members completed the Iowa Scales of Personality Change.
• Executive function disturbance was observed in 72% of patients.
• Social behavior disturbance was seen in 44%, hypomotivation in 49%, irascibility in 50%, and distress in 72%.

Ruptured aneurysms of the anterior cerebral and anterior communicating artery showed a trend toward more depressive symptoms and executive personality changes.

• The association was with a higher prevalence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms and executive personality changes.
• Wilcoxon and chi-square tests were used to identify variables associated with severity of depressive symptoms and personality changes.
• The abstract describes this as a 'trend', not a definitive association.

The authors conclude that recognizing specific challenges may help guide targeted interventions.

• Challenges named include thinking, social interactions, language, and vulnerability to pressure.
• Interventions could be delivered by families, employers, and health care providers.