Abstract
Post-stroke fatigue and post-stroke depression are common and debilitating complications that significantly impair recovery, functional status, and quality of life in stroke survivors. However, overlapping symptoms and variability in diagnostic approaches make their accurate assessment challenging.Objective:to comparatively evaluate the reliability, validity, sensitivity, and specificity of the Beck Depression Inventory, Fatigue Assessment Scale, and Mental Health Continuum–Short Form in identifying post-stroke depression and fatigue.Methodology. A comparative literature review was conducted, including 10 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2024, selected from five major databases based on predefined inclusion criteria. The diagnostic properties of the scales (reliability, validity, sensitivity, and specificity) were systematically analyzed.Conclusions. The findings indicate that the Beck Depression Inventory demonstrates high reliability in screening for depressive symptoms, although its specificity decreases in the presence of post-stroke fatigue. TheFatigue Assessment Scale shows high accuracy in detecting fatigue but does not capture the full spectrum of psychological distress. The Mental Health Continuum–Short Form provides a comprehensive assessment of mental well-being but is less optimal for clinical diagnosis.Overall, the evidence supports a multimodal assessment approach that integrates tools for depression, fatigue, and mental well-being, improving diagnostic accuracy, guiding personalized rehabilitation, and enhancing long-term outcomes in stroke survivors.Key words:Beck Depression Inventory, Fatigue Assessment Scale, Mental Health Continuum–Short Form, post-stroke, post-stroke fatigue, post-stroke depression.