Racial Variation in the Association Between Domains of Depressive Symptomatology and Functional Recovery in Stroke Survivors

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between various domains of depressive symptomatology and functional recovery in Black and White stroke survivors. Methods: Black (n = 181) and White (n = 797) stroke survivors from the Stroke Recovery in Underserved Population database were included. Four domains of depressive symptomatology (depressed affect, positive affect, somatic symptoms, interpersonal difficulties) were measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale at discharge; functional recovery was measured by the Functional Independence Measure at discharge and 3-month follow-up. Multivariable linear regression analyses examined the relation between race and functional recovery, and the association between depressive symptomatology and functional recovery by race. Results: Three-month functional recovery was greater among White stroke survivors than Black survivors. Affective symptoms of depression predicted poorer functional recovery of White survivors; whereas somatic symptoms predicted poorer functional recovery of Black survivors. Conclusions: Domains of depressive symptomatology were differentially associated with poorer functional recovery in Black and White stroke survivors. Psychosocial interventions aimed at alleviating depressive symptomatology have the potential to improve functional recovery in Black and White stroke survivors and should be addressed in planning rehabilitation post-stroke.