Evaluation of the frequency of Depression following ischemic stroke in Babol

Stroke is a major cause of depression in elderly. About 30% of all stroke patients experience a kind of depression after stroke. This study was performed to assess the incidence of post stroke depression in our region. In a historical cohort and hospital-based study on 205 ischemic stroke patients, depression was determined during two year period after onset of stroke. Thirty seven patients (18%) had depression during this study period sixteen (43.2%) female and 21male (56.8 %) (RR=1.46, CI= 0.8-2.64, P=0.2). Depression was 21.9% in institutionalized patients. Incidence of post stroke depression in this study was less than other studies.Rate of post stroke depression in home care patients was less than institutionalized cases.