The lived experience of stroke survivors with early depressive symptoms: A longitudinal perspective

Figures & data

Table I. Demographic characteristics of each participant at 18 months.

Participant	Sex & age	Lesion side & type	Living situation	Functional disabilities in the acute phase	Functional disabilities at 18 months	Physical treatment^a	Psychological treatment^b	Education	Employment
Sigrid	F	L	With husband	None	None	None	None	No higher education	Pensioner
	75	Infarction
Ingrid	F	R	Alone, widow	None	None	None	None	Vocational training	Pensioner
	75	Infarction
Nora	F	R	With husband	Limited function of the left upper extremity	Improved function of the left upper extremity	Physiotherapy	Antidepressant	Vocational training	Employed, working 100%
	58	Haemorrhage
Jon^c	M	L	With wife	Limited function of the right upper extremity	Still limited function of the right upper extremity	Physiotherapy	None	Vocational training	Prevocational training
	30	Infarction
Peter	M	R	Alone, widow	Able to walk with aids	Able to walk with aids	None	None	Vocational training	Pensioner
	85	Infarction		Limited function of the left upper extremity	Improved function of the left upper extremity, but still some limitations
Ellen^d	F	R	Alone, widow	Able to walk with aids	Able to walk with aids. The function of the left upper extremity had worsened	None	None	Vocational training	Pensioner
	75	Infarction		Limited function of the left upper extremity
Anne	F	L	Alone, divorced	Communication difficulties/aphasia	Improved communication skills, but still some limitations	None	None	Vocational training	Disablement receiver
	67	Infarction
Erik^e	M	R	With wife and children	Able to walk with aids	Able to walk without aids	Physiotherapy	In treatment of a psychiatrist	University	Employed, working 50%
	54	Infarction		Limited function of the left upper extremity	Better function of the left upper extremity, but still some limitations	Occupational therapy	Antidepressant
				Communication difficulties	No communication difficulties	Speech therapy
Hedda	F	R	With husband and children	Limited function of the left upper extremity	Better function of the left upper extremity	Physiotherapy	Antidepressant	Vocational training	Prevocational training
	45	Infarction		Communication difficulties	No communication difficulties	Speech therapy

Notes: In order to make the participants confidentiality, fictive names were chosen.

^aBetween the acute phase and 18 months after the stroke.

^bBetween the acute phase and 18 months after the stroke.

^cHis wife was present in parts of the 12- and 18-month interviews.

^dThe 6 month interview was conducted by phone.

^eSix-month interview was conducted by phone. The 12- and 18-month interviews took place at his office.

Table II. Interview guide.

Introduction	The aim of the study
	Clarify the roles as researcher and participant
Present situation	As a whole—How do you feel right now?
	Tell me more about your experiences?
From last interview to present	How have you been since the last time we spoke?
	Have there been any changes, episodes? Can you tell me more?
The impact of depressive symptoms on daily life	Tell me about your days; What do you do? What did you do yesterday?
	How was a typical day for you before you had the stroke?
	Do you have other challenges or limitations now compared to last time we spoke? Can you tell me more?
	Tell me about the changes after stroke (in relation to depressive symptoms, e.g., interests, feeling of joy, restlessness, decreased libido, energy, sleep, tiredness, etc.)
	How do these changes impact your days?
Future	How do you imagine your future will be?
	Important things?