Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is one of the most common and serious psychological complications after stroke, affecting nearly one-third of survivors. Depression can negatively influence motivation, participation in rehabilitation, and performance of activities of daily living (ADLs), ultimately compromising functional outcomes and quality of life.

Aim: To assess the impact of post-stroke depression on functional independence in activities of daily living among stroke survivors.

Materials and Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 48 post-stroke patients aged ≥45 years attending the Neuro-Physiotherapy OPD at MIPT, Latur. Depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Functional independence was evaluated using the Barthel Index and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Descriptive statistics were calculated, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between depression and functional independence.

Results: The mean HAM-D score was 15.97 ± 7.05, indicating predominantly mild to moderate depression. The mean Barthel Index score was 65.36 ± 28.95, and the mean FIM score was 81.24 ± 33.63, reflecting overall moderate dependence in ADLs. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between depression and functional independence (r = –0.544, p < 0.05), indicating that higher levels of depression were associated with lower functional independence.