STROKE AND DEPRESSION DOES THE ETIOLOGY COUNT. PIRES-BARATA, S STROKE AND DEPRESSION DOES THE ETIOLOGY COUNT? PIRES-BARATA, S., HENRIQUES, I. OUTPATIENT STROKE CLINIC; HOSPITAL DO ESPÍRITO SANTO, ÉVORA, PORTUGAL INTRODUCTION Depressive symptoms might appear in the context of an emotional adjustment to stroke occurrence in previously independent persons. Depression is a prevalent pathology after stroke but the relationship between stroke aetiology and depression is not well understood. We studied the association between stroke aetiology (ischemic or Hemorrhagic) and the occurrence of depressive symptomatology And looked for any prevalent depressive symptom. RESULTS Depressive symptoms were present in 23% of hemorrhagic stroke patients and in 36% of ischemic stroke patients. Lost of interest in diary activities or life in general was present in 33% of the ischemic stroke patients and in 17% of the hemorrhagic stroke patients. Hemorrhagic stroke patients showed more depressive symptoms such as sleep disorders or appetite disorders when compared with the ischemic stroke patients. METHODS We interviewed 22 first ever stroke patients. We used the DSM-IV criteria for Major Depression, that includes symptoms such as lost of interest in diary activities or life in general, depressive humour, appetite disorders, sleep disorders, psychomotor disorders, tiredness, guilty feelings, thought or concentration disorders, thought of death. Patients were observed in a single interview 2 to 12 months after stroke. Age varies between 36 and 78 years. We excluded patients with global aphasia, previous stroke and others that were also unable to perform the interview. All patients were studied with a protocol that includes at least one CT-scan or MRI. DISCUSSION In our sample, ischemic stroke patients showed more depressive symptomatology compared to hemorrhagic stroke patients. Lost in diary activities or life in general was the most prevalent depressive symptom both in hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke patients. In future studies, we expect to apply measure rates in order to investigate what diary activities do these patients loose interest in. Since depression interferes with the rehabilitation process, it is very important to detect, as soon as possible, depressive symptoms, in order to improve care in stroke patients.