SynthesisThe Journal of head trauma rehabilitation
The Effect of Antidepressants on Depression After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Meta-analysis.
Synthesis in The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Brain-based correlates of depression and traumatic brain injury: a systematic review of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies.Frontiers in neuroimaging · 2024Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Pharmacotherapy for Depression after Adult Traumatic Brain Injury: an Umbrella Review.Neuropsychology review · 2023Pooled it
- Therapeutic benefits of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments for depressive symptoms after traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN · 2021Pooled it
- The role of the kynurenine pathway in the pathogenesis of pain and affective disorders after traumatic brain injury.Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2026Review
- Outpatient rehabilitation can prevent suicide after acquired brain injury.Journal of rehabilitation medicine · 2026Article
- Neurobehavioral symptom changes following bilateral two-level stellate ganglion blocks in patients with traumatic brain injury: a retrospective analysis of 102 patients.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2026Article
- Article
- Effects of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury on Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Modulation of Lateral Habenula Excitability and Motivated Behavior.Journal of neurotrauma · 2025Article
- Diagnosis and Management of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI): A Comprehensive, Patient-centered Approach.Current pain and headache reports · 2025Review
- Review
- Gut Microbiome Modulation of Glutamate Dynamics: Implications for Brain Health and Neurotoxicity.Nutrients · 2024Review
- Effects of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury on Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Modulation of Lateral Habenula Excitability and Motivated Behavior.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2024Article
- A Scoping Review on the Use of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Techniques for Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms.Biomedicines · 2024Article
- Effect ofBioMedicine · 2024Article
- Dysregulation of the dopaminergic system secondary to traumatic brain injury: implications for mood and anxiety disorders.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2024Review
- Broadening horizons: ferroptosis as a new target for traumatic brain injury.Burns & trauma · 2024Review
- Depressive symptoms following traumatic brain injury are associated with resting-state functional connectivity.Psychological medicine · 2023Article
- Management of Psychological Complications Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.Current neurology and neuroscience reports · 2023Review
- Treatment and Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury: Current Update.Brain & NeuroRehabilitation · 2022Review
- Mood Disorders in Young People With Acquired Brain Injury: An Integrated Model.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveFollowing traumatic brain injury (TBI), depressive symptoms are common and may influence recovery. We performed a meta-analysis to estimate the benefit of antidepressants following TBI and compare the estimated effects between antidepressants and placebo.
participantsMultiple databases were searched to find prospective pharmacological treatment studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults following TBI. MAIN MEASURES: Effect sizes for antidepressant medications in patients with TBI were calculated for within-subjects designs that examined change from baseline after receiving medical treatment and treatment/placebo designs that examined the differences between the antidepressants and placebo groups.
designA random-effects model was used for both analyses.
resultsOf 1028 titles screened, 11 were included. Pooled estimates showed nonsignificant difference in reduction of depression scores between medications and placebo (standardized mean difference of 5 trials = -0.3; 95% CI, -0.6 to 0.0; I = 17%), and a significant reduction in depression scores for individuals after pharmacotherapy (mean change = -11.2; 95% CI, -14.7 to -7.6 on the Hamilton Depression Scale; I = 87%).
conclusionsThis meta-analysis found no significant benefit of antidepressant over placebo in the treatment of MDD following TBI. Pooled estimates showed a high degree of bias and heterogeneity. Prospective studies on the impact of antidepressants in well-defined cohorts of TBI patients are warranted.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.