Stroke survivors with depression are more likely to die within five years, particularly younger patients. Those prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) after their stroke appear to have a significantly increased risk of mortality, a UK cohort study has found. Data were obtained from the South London Stroke Register. A total of 3,722 patients, registered between 1998 and 2012 and followed up till the end of June 2013, were recruited to the study. Three months after their stroke, 1,354 survivors were screened for depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The outcome measure was all cause mortality within five years of the stroke.