Testing emotionalism after recent stroke
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Testing emotionalism after recent stroke (TEARS)
IRAS ID
157483
Contact name
Niall M Broomfield
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Research and Development Management Office
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Post Stroke Emotionalism (PSE) is a frequently encountered, poorly understood clinical entity causing sudden unheralded crying episodes, not under normal social control, often daily or more often.
We cannot be sure how common PSE actually is because very few studies have looked at this. We know little about stroke types which cause PSE, how PSE is kept going and if PSE can be made better using talking therapies (psychology) rather than medicine. We suspect PSE has a negative effect on life quality, social/physical function, mood and thinking but this has never been properly measured.
This absence of basic scientific knowledge severely limits stroke clinicians to understand, predict and manage PSE and control impact on recovery. The possibility to develop novel treatments/preventive measures is constrained and patients/families must be advised regarding PSE frequency/prognosis based on incomplete evidence.
We will study a large group of people with stroke (N=500) recruited at three acute stroke units in West Scotland. All stroke survivors at the sites will be eligible. We will assess participants a few days after their stroke for signs of PSE and again at six and twelve months. Stroke research nurses will do the assessments. We will measure social/physical functioning, mood, thinking skills and quality of life at each time point. We will compare stroke survivors who develop PSE to stroke survivors who do not and ask stroke survivors who develop PSE what they do to manage it.
We will deliberately include stroke survivors with thinking skills difficulties or language problems, to capture a true picture of PSE frequency amongst all stroke survivors, not a select sample.
The study will capture the true prevalence of PSE, characterise what stroke types cause PSE, and determine PSE impact on stroke survivor mood, life quality, social and physical functioning and cognition.
REC name
Scotland A: Adults with Incapacity only
REC reference
14/SS/1103
Date of REC Opinion
17 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion