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Updated: Feb 18, 2026
Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke
Published on: June 6, 2025
A pilot randomized controlled trial of self-help relaxation to reduce post-stroke depression
Katherine Golding1, Chris Fife-Schaw2, Ian Kneebone3
11 Psychology Department, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Objective:
To consider the potential of self-help relaxation training to treat depression after stroke.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial with cross-over at three months.
Setting:
Community.
Participants:
In total, 21 people with stroke, aged 49-82 years.
Intervention:
Autogenic relaxation CD.
Main Measure:
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression (HADS-D) subscale.
Results:
No difference in depression change scores was identified between the treatment and control groups; however, on two follow-ups, significant positive differences relative to screening were found for the treatment group (at 2 months Z = -2.55, P = .011 and 12 months Z = -2.44, P = .015). A partial η2 = .07 was identified.
Conclusion:
Self-help relaxation holds promise as a self-help treatment for depression after stroke. Findings from this trial, considered with others of relaxation for depression, suggest that a study including a total of 80 participants would likely be sufficient to establish efficacy of the treatment, relative to controls, in those with stroke.
