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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Feb 1.
Published in final edited form as: Stroke. 2016 Dec 8;48(2):507–512. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.015234

Table 1.

This table illustrates the differences in diagnostic criteria, screening tools, and questionnaires between depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. There are no widely accepted differences in criteria for diagnosing an individual following a stroke, specifically13.

Major Depressive Disorder Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

  • Five or more of the following symptoms over 2 weeks:

    1. Depressed mood

    2. Anhedonia

    3. Weight loss or weight gain

    4. Insomnia/hypersomnia

    5. Psychomotor agitation

    6. Fatigue

    7. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

    8. Diminished concentration

    9. Suicidal ideation

  • The symptoms cause clinically significant distress and/or impairment

  • The episode is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or medical condition

  • Exposure to or indirectly witnessing a stressor

  • The traumatic event is re-experienced by intrusive memories, nightmares, intense distress, etc.

  • The individual seeks to avoid reminders of trauma-related stimuli

  • The individual experiences negative alterations in cognition and mood (which can resemble depression, though not necessarily)

  • Alterations in arousal/reactivity: hypervigilance, etc.

  • Symptoms persist for over a month, have clinical significance, and are not attributable to another substance or illness
Common Screening Tools and Questionnaires8,23
Beck Depression Inventory Clinician Administered PTSD Scale
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Impact of Event Scale
Major Depression Inventory Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-V
Patient Health Questionnaire (9 or 10 items) Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale
Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-V PTSD Checklist Specific for Stroke