Chang 2011.

Methods	Study design: parallel design Number of arms: 2 Treatment arm: rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) + regular care Control arm: prescribed medications (i.e. antithrombotic, vasodilators, neurotrophic drugs) and rehabilitation training programs for physical functioning
Participants	Geographical location: China Setting: inpatient Stroke criteria: patients with hemiplegic stroke Method of stroke diagnosis: based on the diagnostic criteria set at the National Fourth Cerebrovascular Disease Conference. Each patient’s condition was confirmed with a CT or MRI scan Time since stroke: less than 2 weeks Inclusion criteria: 1) patients with hemiplegic stroke, 2) patients who were less than 2 weeks post‐stroke Exclusion criteria: 1) MMSE score of < 24, 2) severe aphasia, 3) those who failed to complete the treatment, including those who died or stopped the treatment by choice, 4) history of psychiatric illness Depression criteria: Chinese version of the HDRS. Mean depression score used rather than depression cut off Total number randomised in this trial: 77 Number randomised in treatment group: 39 Number randomised to control group: 38 Total number included in final analysis: 66 Number included in treatment group for final analysis: 34 Number included in control group for final analysis: 32
Interventions	Treatment: REBT + regular care. Counselling, which consisted of a knowledge component: education about health psychology and recovery from hemiplegic stroke; and a behavioural training component including belief changes forgiveness training and anger management Treatment duration: 1‐2 hours weekly for 1 month Administerd by: treatment group: by trained psychology graduate; regular care: administered by the hospital nurses Supervision: not reported Intervention fidelity: those who failed to complete the intervention were excluded from the study. 34/39 completed in the treatment arm. 32/38 completed in the control arm Control: prescribed medications (i.e. antithrombotic, vasodilators, neurotrophic drugs) and rehabilitation training programs for physical functioning Follow‐up: not reported
Outcomes	Primary outcomes Anger management measured using the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) Anxiety measured using the Chinese version of the HDRS Depression measured using the Chinese version of the HDRS Secondary outcomes Activities of daily living measured using the Chinese version of the BI Quality of life measured using the Chinese version of the Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale
Notes