summary: Objective: Study emotional behaviour in patients with stroke (stroke) Background: Changes in emotional behaviour after stroke are currently well recognised but have been little studied in the acute phase of stroke. Method: All patients with stroke of less than 24 hours were included prospectively. We have validated a scale (the Emotional Behavior Index (EBI)), comprising 38 qualifiers, representing sadness, aggression, dehibition, adaptation, passivity, indifference and denial. Clinical and radiological information (CT and MRI) has been obtained through our Register of AVCs. The statistical analysis was carried out by means of one-to-one, multi-faceted tests Results: Of the 254 patients included, 40 % had sadness, 49 % of passivity, 17 % of aggressiveness, 53 % of indifference, 76 % of desinhibition, 18 % lack of adaptation and 44 % of denial reaction. Several statistically significant interactions have been identified. Sadness seems to be correlated with alcohol history (r = p < 0.037), female sex (r = p < 0.028) and the haemorrhagic nature of stroke (r = p < 0.063). Aggressiveness correlates with a history of depressive disorders (r = p < 0.046) and the haemorrhagic nature of stroke (r = p < 0.06). Defeat corrals to the male sex (r = p < 0.035) and haemorrhagic lesions (r = p < 0.05). Emotional behaviour does not correlate to the degree and type of neurological harm, nor to the location of stroke, but an association between haemorrhagic lesions and aggressive behaviour was identified (p < 0.001) as well as lack of adaptation (r = p < 0.015), some indifference (r = p < 0.018) and a denial reaction (r = p < 0.045). Conclusion: The systematic observation of changes in emotional behaviour after stroke suggests that emotional alterations are independent of thymia and physical interference and therefore probably represent full stroke sequelae. Abstract: Objective: To study emotional behaviour in an acute stroke population. Background: Alterations in emotional behaviour after stroke have been reclaimed, but little attention has been paid to these changes in the very important phase of stroke. Methods: Adult patients working with acute stroke were prospectively recruited and studied. We validated the Emotional Behavior Index (EBI), a 38-item scale designed to evaluate aspects of sadness, aggressiveness, disinhibition, adaptation, passivity, indifference, and denial. Clinical, historical, and imaging (computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging) data were accessed on each subject through our Stroke Registry. Statistical analysis was performed with both UNIVARIATE and Multivariate tests. Results: Of the 254 patients, 40 % reduced sadness, 49 % passivity, 17 % aggressiveness, 53 % indifference, 76 % disinhibition, 18 % lack of adaptation, and 44 % denial reactions. Several significant correlations were identified. Sadness was correlated with a personal history of alcohol abuse (r = P < 0.037), female gender (r = P < 0.028), and hemorrhagic nature of the stroke (r = P < 0.063). Aggressiveness was correlated with a personal history of pressure (r = P < 0.046) and hemorrhage (r = P < 0.06). Denial was correlated with male gender (r = P < 0.035) and hemorrhagic lesions (r = P < 0.05). Emotional behavior did not correlate with either neurologic impairment or lesion localisation, but there was an association between hemorrhage and aggressive behavior (P < 0.001), lack of adaptation (r = P < 0.015), indifference (r = P < 0.018), and denial (r = P < 0.045). Conclusions: Systematic observations of acute emotional behaviour after stroke suggest that emotional alterations are independent of mood and physical status and should be considered as a separate consequence of stroke.