Which personality change may occur in stroke patients?

In stroke patients, one common personality change that may occur is increased irritability or emotional lability. This aspect reflects how a stroke can affect the brain's emotional control centers, leading to difficulties in regulating emotions. Patients may experience sudden swings in mood, displaying heightened irritability or emotional outbursts. This emotional lability can also manifest as frequent crying or laughing that is disproportionate to the situation, often leading to challenges in interpersonal relationships and social engagement.

The other options do not align with common post-stroke personality changes. For instance, although creativity might change, it is more typical for individuals to struggle with cognitive and emotional regulation rather than exhibit increased creativity. Decreased social interaction can occur, but it is often a secondary effect in response to emotional changes rather than a primary personality shift. Improved mood stability is also not typically observed, as emotional dysregulation is a hallmark of stroke-related personality changes. Thus, the ability to maintain stable moods tends to decline rather than improve following a stroke.