Another, about 20 percent of patients, will develop minor depression. There are some, approximately 10 to 20 percent of patients, who develop either major or minor depression some months or even a year after the onset of the stroke. Most depressions occur within the acute period after the stroke, but there are some depressions, that are delayed in onset and occur during the first year of poststroke recovery. The issue of poststroke depression has gained worldwide interest in the past 10 years. There has been a general agreement about the prevalence of both major and minor depression after stroke.
Depression is one of the major impediments to full physical and mental recovery from stroke.
Approximately 50 percent will become depressed at some time during the first two years after the stroke. The majority of patients, approximately 40 percent, will develop depression within the first one to two months after the stroke. There is another number of 10 to 20 percent of patients who will develop depression at some later time during the first two years. By rehab, I assume what is meant is the usual types of rehabilitation therapy such as physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. These do not specifically treat depression after a stroke.