OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of paroxetine on depression symptoms and neurological function recovery in patients with post-stroke depression. METHODS： A total of 108 patients with post-stroke depression in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively and divided into observation group （51 cases） and control group （50 cases）. Both groups received routine therapy as dehydration， activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis， anticoagulation， defibringen. Based on it， observation group was additionally given Paroxetine hydrochloride tablet 20 mg， once a day； control group was additionally given Sertraline hydrochloride tablet 50 mg， once a day. Treatment courses of 2 groups lasted for 4 weeks. The depression symptom relief and the recovery of neurological function were observed in 2 groups before and after treatment. HAMD score and MESSS score were compared before and after treatment， and the occurrence of ADR was recorded during treatment. RESULTS： Total response rate of depression symptom relief （70.37％ vs. 38.89％） and the recovery of neurological function （66.67％ vs. 40.74％） in observation group were significantly higher than control group， with statistical significance（P＜0.05）. Before treatment， there was no statistical significance in HAMD score and MESSS score between 2 groups（P＞0.05）； after treatment， HAMD score and MESSS score of 2 groups were significantly lower than before treatment， and the observation group was significantly lower than the control group， with statistical significance（P＜0.05）. During treatment，no obvious ADR was found in 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS： Paroxetine has good therapeutic efficacy for post-stroke depression and can effectively relieve the depression so as to promote the recovery of neurological function， which has a positive effect on the prognosis of patients with acute cerebral infarction and doesn’t increase the occurrence of ADR with good safety.