Cochrane · systematic review · CD003437

Pharmacological, non‐invasive brain stimulation and psychological interventions, and their combination, for treating depression after stroke

Allida, SM, Hsieh, C-F, Cox, KL, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2023 · Cochrane Library

Stroke2 versionsAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
34
current version
GRADE rated
22
No studies
0
Included studies
NR
No studies 0 · 0%Ungraded 12 · 35.3%Very low 19 · 55.9%Low 3 · 8.8%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

Questions and results

Show all 2 versions

Pharmacological interventions compared to placebo for treating depression after stroke

Population: people with depression after stroke
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Depression: meeting study criteria for depression at end of treatment (primary outcome)
Pharmacological interventions vs placebo
RR 0.7 [0.55, 0.88]8 studies · 1025 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Depression: < 50% reduction in scale scores at end of treatment (primary outcome)
Pharmacological interventions vs placebo
RR 0.48 [0.32, 0.7]6 studies · 511 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Depression: mean scores at end of treatment (secondary outcome)
Pharmacological interventions vs placebo
no estimate extracted15 studies · 1535 participantsUngraded
Depression: meeting study criteria for depression at end of
Pharmacological interventions vs placebo
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Adverse events: death (secondary outcome)
Pharmacological interventions vs placebo
RR 0.64 [0.2, 2.07]9 studies · 848 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Adverse events: all ‐ central nervous system events (e.g. confusion, sedation, tremor) (secondary outcome)
Pharmacological interventions vs placebo
RR 1.55 [1.12, 2.15]5 studies · 488 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Adverse events: all ‐ gastrointestinal effects (e.g. constipation, diarrhoea) (secondary outcome)
Pharmacological interventions vs placebo
RR 1.62 [1.19, 2.19]4 studies · 473 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias

Non‐invasive brain stimulation compared to sham non‐invasive brain stimulation and/or usual care for treating depression after stroke

Population: people with depression after stroke
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Depression: meeting study criteria for depression at end of treatment (primary outcome)
Non‐invasive brain stimulation vs sham non‐invasive brain stimulation and/or usual care
RR 0.67 [0.39, 1.14]2 studies · 130 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Depression: < 50% reduction in scale scores at end of treatment (primary outcome)
Non‐invasive brain stimulation vs sham non‐invasive brain stimulation and/or usual care
RR 0.84 [0.52, 1.37]2 studies · 130 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Depression: mean scores at end of treatment (secondary outcome)
Non‐invasive brain stimulation vs sham non‐invasive brain stimulation and/or usual care
no estimate extracted8 studies · 505 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Depression: meeting study criteria for depression at end of
Non‐invasive brain stimulation vs sham non‐invasive brain stimulation and/or usual care
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Adverse events: death ‐ at end of treatment (secondary outcome)
Non‐invasive brain stimulation vs sham non‐invasive brain stimulation and/or usual care
no estimate extracted4 studies · 393 participantsUngraded
Adverse events: all ‐ central nervous system events (e.g. confusion, headache, tremor) (secondary outcome)
Non‐invasive brain stimulation vs sham non‐invasive brain stimulation and/or usual care
RR 0.61 [0.23, 1.64]4 studies · 183 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency
Adverse events: all ‐ other events ‐ not listed above (e.g. dysuria, neck pain, eye discomfort) (secondary outcome)
Non‐invasive brain stimulation vs sham non‐invasive brain stimulation and/or usual care
RR 0.47 [0.16, 1.39]4 studies · 183 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency

Psychological therapy compared to usual care and/or attention control for treating depression after stroke

Population: people with depression after stroke
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Depression: meeting study criteria for depression at end of treatment (primary outcome)
Psychological therapy vs usual care and/or attention control
RR 0.77 [0.62, 0.95]6 studies · 521 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Depression: < 50% reduction in scale scores at end of treatment (primary outcome)
Psychological therapy vs usual care and/or attention control
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Depression: mean scores at end of treatment (other outcome)
Psychological therapy vs usual care and/or attention control
no estimate extracted17 studies · 1568 participantsUngraded
Depression: meeting study criteria for depression at end of
Psychological therapy vs usual care and/or attention control
RR 0.85 [0.59, 1.21]3 studies · 201 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Adverse events: death ‐ at end of treatment (secondary outcome)
Psychological therapy vs usual care and/or attention control
RR 0.65 [0.26, 1.66]9 studies · 889 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Adverse events: all ‐ central nervous system events (e.g. suicidal intentions) (secondary outcome)
Psychological therapy vs usual care and/or attention control
RR 0.87 [0.2, 3.9]2 studies · 126 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Adverse events: all ‐ other events ‐ not listed above (e.g. fall, too ill) (secondary outcome)
Psychological therapy vs usual care and/or attention control
RR 0.62 [0.13, 3.09]3 studies · 254 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias

Pharmacological intervention and psychological therapy (combination) compared to a pharmacological intervention and usual care or attention control (single) for treating depression after stroke

Population: people with depression after stroke
6 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Depression: meeting study criteria for depression at end of treatment (primary outcome)
Pharmacological intervention and psychological therapy (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and usual care or attention control (single)
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Depression: < 50% reduction in scale scores at end of treatment (primary outcome)
Pharmacological intervention and psychological therapy (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and usual care or attention control (single)
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Depression: mean scores at end of treatment (secondary outcome)
Pharmacological intervention and psychological therapy (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and usual care or attention control (single)
no estimate extracted3 studies · 278 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Depression: meeting study criteria for depression at end of
Pharmacological intervention and psychological therapy (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and usual care or attention control (single)
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Adverse events: death ‐ at end of treatment (secondary outcome)
Pharmacological intervention and psychological therapy (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and usual care or attention control (single)
no estimate extracted1 study · 54 participantsUngraded
Adverse events: all ‐ gastrointestinal effects (e.g. constipation, diarrhoea) (secondary outcome)
Pharmacological intervention and psychological therapy (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and usual care or attention control (single)
no estimate extracted1 study · 54 participantsUngraded

Pharmacological intervention and non‐invasive brain stimulation (combination) compared to a pharmacological intervention and sham stimulation or usual care (single) for treating depression after stroke

Population: people with depression after stroke
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Depression: meeting the criteria for depression at end of treatment (primary outcome)
Pharmacological intervention and non‐invasive brain stimulation (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and sham stimulation or usual care (single)
RR 0.77 [0.64, 0.91]3 studies · 392 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias
Depression: < 50% reduction in scale scores at end of treatment (primary outcome)
Pharmacological intervention and non‐invasive brain stimulation (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and sham stimulation or usual care (single)
RR 0.95 [0.69, 1.3]3 studies · 392 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Depression: mean scores at end of treatment (secondary outcome)
Pharmacological intervention and non‐invasive brain stimulation (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and sham stimulation or usual care (single)
no estimate extracted12 studies · 1055 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Depression: meeting study criteria for depression at end of
Pharmacological intervention and non‐invasive brain stimulation (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and sham stimulation or usual care (single)
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Adverse events: death (secondary outcome)
Pharmacological intervention and non‐invasive brain stimulation (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and sham stimulation or usual care (single)
RR 1.06 [0.27, 4.16]5 studies · 487 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Adverse events: all ‐ central nervous system events (e.g. headache, seizures) (secondary outcome)
Pharmacological intervention and non‐invasive brain stimulation (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and sham stimulation or usual care (single)
RR 0.5 [0.05, 5.28]3 studies · 342 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Adverse events: all ‐ other events ‐ not listed above (e.g. insomnia, discomfort, headaches) (secondary outcome)
Pharmacological intervention and non‐invasive brain stimulation (combination) vs a pharmacological intervention and sham stimulation or usual care (single)
RR 7 [0.38, 129.93]2 studies · 120 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias