Quality of Life after Subarachnoid Haemorrhage, and its Relationship to Impairments, Disabilities and Depression
Abstract
This investigation addresses the subjectively experienced Quality of Life (QoL) in long-term survivors ( n 104) of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). QoL in terms of increase/no—negligible change/decrease was related to prevalence of impairments, disabilities and to occurrence of depression. The perceived QoL had increased for 14% of the sample, was unaltered for 48% and had decreased for 38%. Impairments were neither significantly related to QoL nor to depression. Decreased QoL appeared mainly to reflect decreased ability to socialise while depression was closely associated with disabilities in numerous instrumental activities of daily living, particularly within the domestic and social sphere, and also with work- and leisure disabilities.