Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31200668›Full record

Trial reportBMC neurology2019

Prevention of mood disorder after stroke: a randomised controlled trial of problem solving therapy versus volunteer support.

Kate Hill, Allan House, Peter Knapp, Carrie Wardhaugh, John Bamford, Andy Vail

Open access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC neurology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
2.3field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 23 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Adaptive Interventions for Enhancing Participation Poststroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapie · 2026
    Pooled it
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  4. Association BetweenNeuropsychiatric disease and treatment · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

Kate HillLeeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Worsley Building (Rm 11.57), Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9NL, UK. k.m.hill@leeds.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2080-0262
Allan HouseLeeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Worsley Building (Rm 11.57), Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9NL, UK.
Peter KnappDepartment of Health Sciences and the Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
Carrie WardhaughCentre for Clinical Brain Sciences, National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit, Bryan Matthews Building, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
John BamfordLeeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3EX, UK.
Andy VailThe University of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
University of Leeds · GBLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · GBUniversity of Manchester · GBUniversity of York · GBWestern General Hospital · GB

Funding

NHS Research and Development programme in cardiovascular disease and stroke (UK) Not available
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMood disorder after stroke is common but drug and psychosocial treatments have been assessed with disappointing results. Preventing mood disorder from developing in the first place could be a better approach and might reduce the need for pharmacotherapy in this predominantly older patient group. We used a brief problem-solving therapy and evaluated its effect in reducing mood disorder in the 12 months after stroke.

methodsA 3-group, parallel, randomised controlled trial. Four hundred fifty patients with stroke were randomised within 1 month of hospital admission to problem-solving therapy from a psychiatric nurse, non-specific support given by volunteers or treatment-as-usual. Follow up took place at 6 and 12 months after stroke. Standardised measures of mood (Present State Examination, GHQ-28), cognitive state (mini-mental state examination) and function (Barthel ADL index, Frenchay Activities Index) were taken at baseline, 6 and 12 months after randomisation. Satisfaction with care was recorded at follow up.

resultsAt 6 months, all psychological and activity measures favoured problem-solving therapy. At 12 months, patients in the problem-solving therapy group had significantly lower GHQ-28 scores and lower median Present State Examination symptom scores. There were no statistically significant differences in activity. The problem-solving therapy group were more satisfied with some aspects of care.

conclusionsThe results are encouraging and suggest it is possible to prevent mood disorder in stroke patients using a psychological intervention. The differences between the groups at 12 months may indicate a sustained impact of psychological therapies, by comparison with non-specific support.

trial registrationISRCTN: ISRCTN33773710 Registered: 23/01/2004 (Retrospectively).

Indexed as

Problem SolvingAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMood DisordersPsychotherapyStrokeCerebrovascular accidentCognitive therapyDepressionMood disordersPreventionProblem solvingStroke

Identifiers

PMID31200668
PMCPMC6567381
OpenAlexW2949165035

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.