Background
In recent decades, considerable advances have been made in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (IS) and its prevention. However, even after treatment, approximately two-thirds of patients with IS have some degree of disability that requires rehabilitation, along with an increased possibility of developing psychiatric disorders, particularly depression.

Objective
To determine the predictors of post-stroke depression in a 6-month period in patients with IS.

Method
Ninety-seven patients with IS without previous depression were included in the study. The study protocol was applied during hospitalization and at 30, 90, and 180 days after hospital discharge. A binary logistic regression was then used. Age, sex, marital status, occupation, education, thrombolysis, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, modified Rankin scale (mRS) score, Barthel index, and Mini-Mental State Examination score were included as independent variables. 

Results
Of the 97 patients, 24% of patients developed post-stroke depression. In the longitudinal follow-up, an mRS score of >0 was the lone significant predictor of depression development (odds ratio = 5.38; 95% confidence interval: 1.25–23.12; p  < 0.05). 

Conclusion
Our results showed that in patients without previous depression, functional impairment of any degree has a 5-fold greater chance of leading to depression development in the first 6 months post-stroke as compared to that in patients without functional impairment.