Screening Depression and Suicidality in Post Stroke Aphasia: A Theory of Planned Behaviour Study

Abstract

Background: Clinical guidelines recommend screening for post-stroke depression, which is particularly important for people with post-stroke aphasia, due to increased risk of depression and suicidality. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) suggests that behavioural intentions are influenced by three factors: attitudes, normative beliefs, and perceived behavioural control. It has been used to investigate staff intentions to perform post-stroke screening, but little is known about staff intentions to screen people with aphasia for depression or suicidality. Aims: We examined how UK stroke professionals describe screening for depression and suicidality with people with aphasia and whether the TPB predicts intent to screen depression with this population. Methods & Procedures: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey and used multiple regression to test whether attitudes, normative beliefs, and perceived behavioural control predicted intent to screen people with aphasia for depression and suicidality. To assess response stability over time we asked respondents to repeat the survey over a fortnight later. Results: One hundred and eighteen UK stroke professionals completed the survey between May and September 2020. Intent to screen people with aphasia for depression was high (M = 71.6%, SD = 34.7) but much lower for suicidality (M = 42.4%, SD = 39). Approximately half the variance in intent to screen for depression was predicted by the TPB, R 2 =.48, F (3,101) = 30.60, p