Depression and failure to resume social activities after stroke.

In 91 stroke patients, the incidence of depression was 26% (24 patients) 6 months after stroke. Depression was significantly correlated with failure to resume premorbid social activities; depressed patients lost a mean of 67% previous activities while nondepressed patients lost a mean of 43% (p less than 0.01). Depression status was not significantly related to age, sex, marital or cognitive status, or side of brain involvement. Independence in ADL and ambulation or change in residence after stroke also were not significantly related to depression status. Since depression is common after stroke, is associated with failure to return to previous activities, and cannot be predicted by commonly used patient characteristics, the health care team must carefully identify, monitor, and manage depression in the patient recovering from stroke.