The occurrence of a depressive disorder after a neurological disease is a condition classified in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) as an Organic mood [affective] disorders [F06.3], and in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) as a Mood disorder due to a general medical condition [298.83]. Cerebrovascular disease is associated with an increased risk for depression, with incidence rates of 30-40%. Frequency of post-stroke depression is highest during the first month after the ischemic event, but remains high for several years.

The aim of this poster is to show and discuss some troublesome and complex issues on diagnosing and managing patients with post-stroke depression, based on a case report.

Herein we report a case of a 46-year-old woman, without significant prior psychiatric history, who presented with depressive symptoms after left middle cerebral artery stroke (with cardioembolic source) and right hemiplegia/hemiparesis and motor aphasia sequelae.

Depression has shown to be the most common psychiatric post-stroke complication, and the one associated with a worse poorer functional prognosis. It may be difficult to accurately diagnose a post-stroke depression, particularly in patients with aphasia, anosognosia and other cognitive dysfunctions.