What is the prevalence of depression in people who have had a stroke?
Answer
The prevalence of depression in those with stroke varies between 10% and 45%. The reason there is such a broad range depends on several factors. It depends on the time the person was assessed as having depression and a stroke, the instruments used, the type of facility in which the person was assessed (acute, rehab or outpatient), and the level of the research. The peak incidence of having a stroke is between six months and two years post-stroke, but if you are working in acute care, the person may already be demonstrating some of the risk factors that would cause a person to develop a depression later on after their stroke has occurred.
Editor’s note: This Ask the Expert was adapted from the course, ‘Depression and Other Psychosocial Disorders Associated with Stroke’ that is available in text and video course formats.
Continued and its subsidiaries provide professional education authored by qualified Subject Matter Experts for continuing education purposes. These materials are intended for educational purposes and do not constitute medical advice or a substitute for individual clinical judgment. Continued is not a clinical healthcare provider; the licensed professional is solely responsible for ensuring that the application of any techniques or information presented is within their legal scope of practice and jurisdictional requirements.
Gina Taylor, MS, OTR/L, HPCS
Gina Taylor, MS, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist with over 18 years of experience in pediatric, family-centered, and community-based practice. Her work focuses on sensory regulation, daily routines, habit formation, and supporting meaningful participation across environments. Gina has extensive experience teaching OT and OTA students and clinicians, with a strong emphasis on emerging areas of practice and real-world application of OT skills. Her current professional interests include the emerging intersection of occupational therapy, mental health, and psychedelic-assisted therapy, with a focus on preparation, sensory integration, environmental support, and post-experience integration within the OT scope. Gina brings a grounded, practical lens to complex topics, helping clinicians understand how core OT skills translate into emerging areas of practice.
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