Depression after a cerebrovascular accident. The importance of the integration of neurobiological and psychosocial pathogenic models.

Stroke survivors frequently suffer from depression. Research has focused on the incidence, phenomenology, course and risk factors of poststroke depression (PSD). Special attention has been paid to biological explanatory models, such as the lesion location and vascular depression hypotheses. In addition to such biological approaches, the role of psychosocial factors should not be neglected. This review critically discusses the proceedings in PSD research emphasizing the need for a biopsychosocial approach.