“…Depressive disorders are generally a negative prognostic indicator after stroke, and have been associated with increased mortality, less efficient use of rehabilitation services, and greater functional impairment than outcomes for those who experienced similar stroke symptoms but were not depressed (Hadidi, Treat-Jacobson, & Lindquist, 2009; Matsuzaki, Hashimoto, Yuki, Koyama, Hirata, & Ikeda, 2015; Paolucci, Antonucci, Pratesi, Traballesi, Grasso, & Lubich, 1999). Depressive disorders limit motivation and are associated with increased fatigue and feelings of hopelessnesss (Gillen, 2006; Gillen, Eberhardt, Tennen, Affleck, & Groszmann, 1999; Schubert, Taylor, Lee, Mentari, & Tamaklo, 1992). These factors may interfere with patients’ participation in rehabilitation, creating a vicious cycle whereby depressed individuals become increasingly physically disabled, which in turn worsens depressive symptoms (Herrmann, Black, Lawrence, Szekely, & Szalai, 1998; O’Dell, Lin, & Harrison, 2009).…”