Zhang 2013a.

Methods	RCT Method of randomisation: closed envelopes Blinding: Investigators, participants, not blinded Adverse effects: not stated ITT analysis: none Losses to FU: not stated
Participants	Country: China Number of participants included: 90 (30/30/30) Demographics: 43‐75 years, 54% male Type of stroke: both ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes Diagnosis: WHO definition and all confirmed by CT/MRI Severity on entry: not stated Time from stroke onset: 6‐19 months Setting: inpatient Comparability: no significant difference in age or time post onset
Interventions	3 arms: acupuncture only WM only acupuncture + WM Comparison eligible: acupuncture + WM versus WM Acupuncture treatment Acupuncture rationale: not stated Needling details Points used: scalp acupoints Numbers of points used: 4 acupoints Depths of insertion: 0.66‐1.05 inches Deqi elicited: yes Needle stimulation: manual and electrical Needle retention time: 30 minutes Needle type: hua tuo brand, length 0.98 inches Treatment regimen Number of treatment sessions: 30 sessions Frequency of treatment: 5 sessions/week Total course: 6 weeks Practitioner background: not stated Co‐intervention: WM Control interventions: WM
Outcomes	Improvement of depression (Hamilton Depression Scale) Improvement of sleep (Rhone Planck Sleepiness Scale) Adverse event FU: 6 weeks
Notes	‐
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Randomisation by using closed envelopes
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Randomisation by using closed envelopes
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	High risk	Quote: "unable to blind to participants and operators"
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	High risk	Quote: "unable to blind to participants and operators"
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Details not given
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Information on attrition was not reported
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	Some patient‐related outcomes were not reported, such as information on quality of life or all‐cause mortality
Other bias	Unclear risk	No information provided