Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms Following Acute Middle Cerebral Artery Infarcts

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 23(2); 2005 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2005;23(2): 152-157.

급성 중대뇌동맥 경색 후 발생하는 행동심리적 증상

남태승, 박종귀 최성민* 이승한 박만석 김병채 김명규 조기현

전남대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실, 광주기독병원 신경과*

Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms Following Acute Middle Cerebral Artery Infarcts

Tai-Seung Nam

Department of Neurology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju; Department of Neurology, Gwangju Christian Hospital*, Gwangju, Korea

Abstract

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPS) following acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarcts are not uncommon, but these have been considered to be less important than physical disability. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of BPS following acute MCA infarcts by using the Korean version of neuropsychiatric inventory (K-NPI).
Methods: Fifty-one patients with acute MCA infarcts were studied using the K-NPI scale. We investigated newly developed BPS after the onset of MCA infarcts by interviewing the primary caregiver of each patient. We then evaluated factors related to the BPS such as lesion laterality and various characteristics of the subjects.
Results: The most common BPS following acute MCA infarcts was depression. It was present in 69% of the patients, followed by anxiety (61%), agitation (39%), apathy (29%) and irritability (25%). Depression and anxiety were associated with left MCA lesion, whereas apathy was associated with right lesion. Patients with recurrent MCA infarcts more often had depression and anxiety than those without (p=0.03, p=0.04, respectively). Patients with MCA infarcts caused by cardioembolism more often had irritability and disinhibition than those with other subtypes (p=0.01, p=0.02, respectively).
Conclusions: BPS is frequently observed following acute MCA infarcts. Therefore, early and adequate assessment of post stroke BPS and appropriate therapy may be important in patients with MCA infarcts. KeyWords:MCA infarcts, Neuropsychiatric inventory