Exploring the evidence for the emotional response to stroke: Sociological research sources

In an earlier article, the contribution of biomedical research to understanding and responding to the emotional experience of stroke was described. However, it was questioned whether biomedical sources of evidence alone are sufficient to inform psychosocial interventions, and it was suggested that more diverse sources of evidence should be explored. Accordingly, in this second article, sources of sociological evidence and ‘grey literature’, which focus on the lived experience of stroke, are considered together with the difficulties that researchers might face in both locating and using them. The conclusion is reached that although biomedical and sociological research are grounded in different philosophical traditions, by combining these research perspectives a more holistic therapeutic approach to promoting the emotional wellbeing of a person affected by a stroke can be achieved.