Mood disorders differ after left and right cerebral hemisphere injury

Abstract

Objective To explore mood disorders after left and right cerebral hemisphere injury,to search for possible mechanisms and to provide the basis for designing rehabilitation protocols and assessing prognosis.Methods Fifty-one cases with brain injury were recruited from a rehabilitation center and divided into left and right hemisphere injury groups with 26 and 25 cases,respectively.Hamilton rating scale for depression (HRSD) scores were analyzed. Results The left hemisphere patients had significantly higher HRSD total scores and higher scores indicating 15 kinds of mood disorders (depression,feelings of guilt,suicidal thoughts etc.).Right hemisphere injury patients had significantly higher diurnal variation,depersonalization or derealization and paranoid symptoms. Conclusions The lateralization of the cerebral hemispheres may display itself in mood and emotion.After left or right hemisphere injury,the depression presentation is different,so treatment,prognosis assessment and psychological intervention should be different for left and right hemisphere injuries. Key words: Brain injury; Depression ; Hamilton rating scale for depression ; Left cerebral hemisphere; Right cerebral hemisphere