In this prospective study, 270 patients with first ever stroke were assessed to see if there was a relationship between specific lesion locations and depressive symptoms following stroke. Within the first 4 weeks and 6 months following stroke, these patients were repeatedly evaluated with the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Symptoms of depression and lesion locations were investigated by performing voxel-based lesion behavior mapping based on clinical imaging. Frequency of depression 6 months after a stroke was 19.6%. Six months following a stroke, the risk of depressive symptoms is higher when there are lesions in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. Depressive symptoms are not related to lesions within the right hemisphere. The early diagnosis of depression following a stroke could be assisted by recognizing left frontal lesions as a risk factor through better risk stratification. The outcomes are in line with evidence from functional imaging and noninvasive brain stimulation in patients without focal brain damage demonstrating that dysfunction in the left lateral prefrontal cortex contributes to depressive disorders. Source
