Comparison 2. Psychological therapy versus standard care and/or attention control.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
2.1 Depression: meeting study criteria for depression at end of treatment	2	607	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.68 [0.49, 0.94]
2.1.1 PSE (high score = probable psychiatric disorder)	1	450	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.71 [0.46, 1.12]
2.1.2 GHQ‐28 (high score = greater psychological distress)	1	157	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.64 [0.39, 1.03]
2.2 Scoring above cut‐off points for a depressive disorder at end of treatment	0		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.3 Depression: mean scores at end of treatment	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.3.1 HADS (high score = more depressed)	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.3.2 MADRS (high score = more depressed)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.4 Depression: mean scores at end of follow‐up	3		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.4.1 HADS (high score = more depressed)	3		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.4.2 PHQ‐9 (high score = more depressed)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.4.3 MADRS (high score = more depressed)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.5 Psychological distress: average change in scores between baseline and end of treatment	2	607	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.37 [‐2.27, ‐0.48]
2.5.1 GHQ‐28 (high score = greater psychological distress)	2	607	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.37 [‐2.27, ‐0.48]
2.6 Psychological distress: mean scores at end of treatment	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.6.1 GHQ‐28 (high score = greater psychological distress)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.7 General Health: average change in scores between baseline and end of treatment	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.7.1 Nottingham Health Profile (high score = better health)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.8 General Health: Mean scores at end of treatment	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.8.1 Nottingham Health Profile (high score = better health)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.9 Social activities: average change in scores between baseline and end of treatment	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.9.1 Frenchay Activities Index (high score = better level of activity)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.10 Social activities: mean scores at end of treatment	2	690	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.39 [‐3.81, 3.03]
2.10.1 Frenchay Activities Index (high score = better level of activity)	2	690	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.39 [‐3.81, 3.03]
2.11 Activities of daily living: Average change in scores between baseline and end of treatment	3	847	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.29 [‐0.18, 0.77]
2.11.1 Barthel Index (high score = more dependent)	3	847	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.29 [‐0.18, 0.77]
2.12 Activities of daily living: mean scores at end of treatment	4		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.12.1 Barthel Index (high score = more dependent)	3		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.12.2 Modified Barthel Index (high score = more dependent)	1		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.12.3 Nottingham Extended Activities of daily living (high score = more independent)	1		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.13 Activities of daily living: mean scores at end of follow‐up	1		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.13.1 Modified Barthel Index (high score = more dependent)	1		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.13.2 Nottingham Extended Activities of daily living (high score = more independent)	1		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.14 Anxiety: mean scores at end of treatment	2		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.14.1 HADS (high score = more anxious)	2		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.14.2 STI Trait Anxiety	1		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.14.3 STI State Anxiety	1		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.15 Anxiety: mean scores at end of follow‐up	3		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.15.1 HADS (high score = more anxious)	3		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.15.2 STI Trait Anxiety	1		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.15.3 STI State Anxiety	1		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.16 Adverse events: death	5	975	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.18 [0.73, 1.91]
2.16.1 At end of treatment	5	975	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.18 [0.73, 1.91]
2.17 Adverse events: all	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.17.1 Recurrent stroke	2	212	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	2.61 [0.88, 7.70]
2.17.2 Vascular events ‐ not stroke (e.g. transient ischaemic attack)	1	157	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	6.23 [0.77, 50.59]
2.18 Adverse events: leaving the study early (including death)	6	1030	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.30 [0.90, 1.88]
2.18.1 All dropouts and withdrawals	6	1030	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.30 [0.90, 1.88]