Uncontrollable, unprovoked crying after a stroke is known as Post Stroke Emotionalism (PSE). Very little is known about the cause of PSE, with previous studies being small and short term in nature. Almost nothing is known about why and how PSE persists.
500 stroke survivors will take part in the current study. When they are first admitted to hospital following a stroke, participants will have a brain scan. This will allow the investigators to understand which part of the brain has been affected by the stroke. Later, at one week, then three, six and 12 months after the stroke, participants' PSE symptoms will be assessed.
It is hoped that this study will accurately reveal how common PSE is and what the connections are between PSE, the brain areas affected by stroke, and symptoms such as depression and anxiety. This could then help to develop pioneering treatments to prevent and treat PSE in the future.