Phenomenology refers to the study of the structure of observable events. In the study of poststroke depression, phenomenology refers to the study of signs and symptoms which constitute the basis for the diagnosis of depression. Since depression occurs in the context of an acute medical illness, one might naturally wonder whether these depressions are like depressions in patients without acute illness or whether the acute medical illness interferes with our ability to diagnose depression using standard diagnostic techniques.

As indicated in the first edition of this text, we have conducted several studies examining the phenomenology of poststroke depression compared with the signs and symptoms of depression in patients without brain injury. We have also examined the frequency of specific symptoms of poststroke depression compared with stroke patients who are not depressed to examine whether these symptoms may reflect physical illness or depressive disorder. The only other investigators who have specifically examined the phenomenology of poststroke depression are Spalletta et al. (2005) and Gainotti et al. (1997, 1999). In Chapter 5, I compared the findings of Spalletta et al. (2005) with our findings and showed that both studies found, among patients with poststroke major depression, the frequency of virtually every symptom was significantly greater than non-depressed stroke patients (Table 5.2).