Practical guidance on use of TEARS-Q to diagnose post-stroke emotionalism. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Broomfield, Niall M; West, Robert; Barber, Mark; Gillespie, David C; House, Allan; Walters, Matthew
• Is Part Of: Clinical rehabilitation. Volume 35:Number 12(2021)
• Page Start: 1768
• Page End: 1772
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Stroke -- neuropsychology -- emotionalism; Medical rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 617.03
• DOI: 10.1177/02692155211024801
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-2155

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate, using a classification tree methodology, the ability of the Testing Emotionalism After Recent Stroke – Questionnaire (TEARS-Q) to determine the need for further assessment of post-stroke emotionalism and to identify those whose emotionalism is sufficiently clear that they need assessment for potential intervention. Setting: Acute stroke units of nine Scottish hospitals in the context of a longitudinal cohort study of post-stroke emotionalism. Subjects: A total of 228 stroke survivors recruited between October 1st 2015 and September 30th 2018, within two weeks of stroke. Measures: The measure was the self-report questionnaire TEARS-Q, constructed based on recognised diagnostic features of post-stroke tearful emotionalism. The reference standard was presence/absence of emotionalism on a diagnostic, semi-structured post-stroke emotionalism interview, administered at the same assessment point. Results: Nine of 159 subjects scoring 0 or 1 on TEARS-Q were diagnosed with post-stroke emotionalism on the reference standard, compared to 11 of 21 subjects scoring 2 to 5 on TEARS-Q and 42 of 48 participants scoring 6 and above. Adding age, sex, deprivation, stroke type, stroke severity, mood, cognition, daily functioning and education did not improve the prediction accuracy sufficiently to change the classification tree. Conclusion: TEARS-Q reliably identifies those who need no further post-stroke emotionalism assessment, those who need further assessment to clarify diagnosis, and those who almost certainly have post-stroke emotionalism and may benefit from intervention.