An evaluation of the validity of an aphasia friendly mood and anxiety measure for stroke patients

Introduction People with post-stroke aphasia are at increased risk of experiencing depression and anxiety. Despite this, there is a lack of appropriate tools which can be used in routine stroke rehabilitation practice to support with the identification of patients experiencing these difficulties. The Stroke Aphasia Anxiety and Mood Screen (SAAMS) was developed by an interdisciplinary team of stroke rehabilitation professionals to improve mood and anxiety screening. The current study sought to evaluate the validity of this measure.