Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for post-stroke depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Hyperbaric Medicine

Background:

• Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a prevalent complication following stroke, often inadequately managed, particularly in developing nations.
• Effective therapeutic strategies for PSD are crucial for improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a treatment for post-stroke depression (PSD).
• To synthesize evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on HBOT for PSD.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis was conducted, searching seven electronic databases for RCTs up to May 2019.
• Included studies assessed HBOT's impact on response rate, depression severity, neurological deficit, physical disability, and adverse events.

Main Results:

• Twenty-seven RCTs with 2250 participants indicated HBOT significantly increased response rates (69.4% vs. 51.2%) and reduced depression scores (HAMD, HAMD-24).
• HBOT also improved neurological deficit (NIHSS) and physical disability (Barthel Index) scores, with fewer adverse events compared to controls.
• Combination therapy with antidepressants yielded superior results, and HBOT monotherapy showed a higher response rate than antidepressants alone.

Conclusions:

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) presents an effective and safe treatment option for post-stroke depression (PSD).
• Further high-quality research is recommended to confirm these findings, given the methodological limitations of the included studies.