Effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for treating post-stroke depressive symptoms: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Yejin Lee, Brian Chen, Mandy W.M. Fong, Jin Moo Lee, Ginger E. Nicol, Eric J. Lenze, Lisa T. Connor, Carolyn Baum, Alex W.K. Wong*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions on depressive symptoms in people after stroke. Data Sources: A literature search was performed through databases from January 2000 to August 2018: MEDLINE; CINAHL Plus; Scopus; Academic Search Complete; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; Scopus; and Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts. Search terms included depression, stroke, non-pharmacologic, and intervention. Study Selection: We included randomized controlled trials comparing non-pharmacological interventions to controls for depressive symptoms in people after stroke. Of 1703 identified articles, 22 trials were included in narrative synthesis, of which 13 were eligible for meta-analysis. Data Extraction: Two reviewers extracted characteristics of participants, interventions, and results from all included trials. Data Synthesis: Thirteen interventions were categorized into four types: complementary and alternative therapy (five trials, n=228), exercise (four trials, n=263), psychosocial therapy (two trials, n=216), and multifactorial therapy (two trials, n=358). Overall beneficial effects of non-pharmacological interventions on depressive symptoms were found both post-intervention (effect size [ES] = -0.24, 95% confidence Interval [CI]: -0.37 to -0.11, p < 0.05) and at follow-up (ES = -0.22, CI: -0.36 to -0.07, p< 0.05). We found individual beneficial effects for complementary and alternative therapy (ES = -0.29, CI: -0.55 to -0.02, p < 0.05) and psychosocial therapy (ES = - 0.33, CI: -0.60 to -0.06, p < 0.05) post-intervention. Conclusions: Complementary and alternative therapy and psychosocial therapy appear to be promising strategies for improving post-stroke depression. Future studies target  a personalized approach for people with specific conditions such as cognitive impairment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)289-320
Number of pages32
JournalTopics in stroke rehabilitation
Volume28
Issue number4
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2020

Funding

AW reported grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) during the conduct of the study; grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), and Craig H. Neilsen Foundation outside of the submitted work. EL reported grants from the NIH, US Food and Drug Administration, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, McKnight Brain Research Foundation, Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research, Barnes Jewish Foundation, Takeda, Alkermes, Aptinyx, Johnson & Johnson, and Lundbeck outside of the submitted work; grants and personal fees from Janssen, and personal fees from Jazz Pharmaceuticals outside of the submitted work. This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health [K01HD095388]; National Institutes of Health [P2CHD065702]. The contents of this article do not necessarily represent the policies of the funding agency. We would like to thank Megen Devine at Washington University School of Medicine for her editorial assistance with this manuscript. GN reported grants from the NIH, Washington University Center for Diabetes Translational Research & Institute for Clinical Translational Science, Alkermes, and Otuska American, Inc. She also serves as a consultant for Sunovion, Alkermes, and Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, McKnight Brain Research Foundation, Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research, Barnes Jewish Foundation, MagStim, Takeda, Johnson & Johnson, and Lundbeck outside of the submitted work; grants and personal fees from Janssen, and personal fees from Jazz Pharmaceuticals outside of the submitted work. CB reported grants from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and Schultz Family Support Fund outside of the submitted work.

Keywords

  • behavior therapy
  • complementary therapies
  • depression
  • meta-analysis
  • neuropsychiatry
  • Non-pharmacological interventions
  • psychosocial therapy
  • stroke
  • systematic review

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rehabilitation
  • Community and Home Care
  • Clinical Neurology

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