Internist module: Post-stroke depression + cognitive screening (outpatient practice)
An internist workflow for screening and initial management of depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment after stroke, with referral triggers and documentation templates.
Educational only
Educational only — not medical advice.
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If a patient develops new or worsening stroke symptoms, reduced consciousness, seizure, severe headache, airway/swallowing danger, or unstable vital signs, activate emergency response and follow local stroke escalation protocols.
Key takeaways
- Implement brief, repeatable mood/cognition screening in follow-up visits
- Recognize when symptoms threaten safety/adherence and require urgent referral
- Coordinate with rehab, neurology, and behavioral health
Why this matters
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Clinical frame
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Core clinical idea
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Assessment and workup
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Clinical reasoning pathway
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Management and team actions
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Common pitfalls
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Patient-safe explanation
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Escalation and safety signals
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Applied case
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Clinical scenario
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Common misconceptions
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Reflect
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Key takeaways
- Implement brief, repeatable mood/cognition screening in follow-up visits
- Advanced stroke care requires reconciling the clinical syndrome with timing, imaging, medication risk, patient context, and local pathway capacity.
- A safe plan names escalation thresholds, responsible clinicians, patient-facing instructions, and the next step if results or symptoms change.
Practice check
What you’ll practice
These questions are untimed. After you answer all of them, you’ll see your score and a clear next lesson or reference step.
0 of 4 answered
References
- Tier 2RadiologyInfo.org2025CT Angiography of the Head
- Tier 2RadiologyInfo.org2025Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - Head
- Tier 1American Heart Association/American Stroke Association2021Care of the Patient With Acute Ischemic Stroke: Update to the 2009 Comprehensive Nursing Care Scientific Statement
- Tier 1American Heart Association/American Stroke Association20212021 Guideline for the Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack