ABSTRACT
As House et al (1991) have shown, the range of psychiatric disorders which occur after stroke is protean. Patients may manifest delirium, frontal disinhibition, behavioral disturbances, schizophrenia-like and delusional states, mania, depressive disorders, emotional lability and a range of conditions in which anxiety is the predominant symptom (Burvill et al, 1995a,b). These symptoms may occur alone or in association with a dementia. This chapter will draw on published evidence where available, to advise practical management strategies for specific psychiatric syndromes occurring in the context of cerebrovascular disease in general and dementia associated with cerebrovascular disease in particular. However, as management of generalized behavioral disturbances, the use of cognitive enhancers and family interventions are addressed in other chapters, these topics will not be covered in detail here.
