Background: One in three patients experience depression after stroke. An effective strategy to prevent depression after stroke that could be economically delivered to most patients with a low likelihood of adverse events is needed.
Methods: In a randomized trial conducted in New South Wales, Australia, a postcard was sent monthly to participants (n = 100) for five-months following hospital discharge after stroke (plus usual care) and compared with usual care (n = 101). Ethical approval was obtained to withhold information about the intervention and primary outcome from participants during the consent process.
Results: No significant difference was seen in the proportion of participants with depression in the intervention group (1/88) vs. the control group (3/76) (relative risk 0·29, 95% confidence interval 0·03-2·71) at six-months. No significant differences were seen on Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) depression and anxiety sub-scale scores, quality of life, or activities of daily living; however, many (47/100) responded positively to the postcards.
Conclusions: Although this simple postcard intervention did not significantly reduce the proportion of participants experiencing high HADS depression sub-scale scores after stroke, it may be an effective way to engage with people after stroke following hospital discharge.
Keywords: clinical trial; intervention; ischemic stroke; prevention; stroke; therapy.
© 2012 The Authors. International Journal of Stroke © 2012 World Stroke Organization.