Objective  To evaluate the expression of serum cortisol in patients with post-stroke depression before and after treatment, and its correlation with depression.

  Methods  A total of 56 patients with post-stroke depression admitted in our hospital were randomly selected as observation group and another 56 patients without depression in the same period were selected as control group. The serum cortisol level of the two groups was detected, and the correlation between the serum cortisol level and post-stroke depression were explored.

  Results  The levels of serum cortisol expression in the observation group before and after treatment were significantly higher than that in the control group, and Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD) scores of the observation group after treatment was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Logistic linear regression analysis showed that the serum cortisol level was positively correlated with post-stroke depression.

  Conclusion  The expression of serum cortisol level is closely correlated with the incidence of depression after stroke.