Caring for the mental health of stroke patients with a psychiatrist

Stroke is the most common acute neurological condition and is one of the leading causes of death and disability.
This disease not only affects patients physically but also impacts their mental health. It has been found that some patients experience “depression”, which is considered the most important and common “mental health issue” in stroke patients.

Understanding… the Mind of Stroke Patients…

The Occurrence of Depression in Stroke Patients

Depression results from brain dysfunction or stress caused by changes in the patient’s physical condition and lifestyle, leading to various emotional changes such as:

• Anxiety and Stress
  Patients feel anxious about physical changes and whether they can return to normal, causing stress. This may lead to restlessness, insomnia, irritability, or in some cases, aggressive behavior.
• Depression
  This is the most common mental health problem. Patients may cry constantly, feel bored, be depressed to the point of not wanting to do anything, lose appetite, lose weight, have difficulty concentrating, lack self-confidence, feel worthless, incapable, hopeless, or in severe cases, may not want to live and may want to harm themselves.
• Adjustment
  Patients may exhibit behavioral changes due to illness and may not be ready to accept changes. Each patient’s adjustment varies depending on their personality, adaptability, and the environment or close people who need to understand the patient as much as possible.

Care to Restore the Patient’s Mental Condition

1. Ask the doctor about symptoms and possible emotional problems.
2. Ask the doctor about what the patient can no longer do and what they can still do.
3. Follow the doctor’s advice and attend scheduled appointments.
4. Exercise regularly as recommended by the doctor.
5. Try to participate in family activities as usual.

Caring for the Patient’s Mental Health… from Family Members

1. Pay attention and encourage the patient realistically and consult the attending doctor so that the doctor can properly assess and treat the patient.
2. Understand the patient’s changed behavior and emotions.
3. Express through words, facial expressions, eyes, and touch that the family still loves and supports the patient at all times.
4. If the patient is hospitalized, relatives should visit regularly to prevent the patient from feeling abandoned by the family.
5. Arrange the environment to facilitate daily living, placing household items so the patient can walk or move easily and reach things conveniently.
6. For patients who resist and refuse care from relatives, encourage them to frequently engage in activities they enjoy to help them feel capable of doing many things on their own and reduce resistance when family and relatives assist with some tasks.

Family members should understand the emotional changes in stroke patients as much as possible because “love and care” from the family is an important “source of strength” that helps patients recover faster. Additionally, there is another important person who helps improve the patient’s mental condition, which is the “psychiatrist.”