A pilot randomized controlled trial of self-help relaxation to reduce post-stroke depression.

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 η ²  = .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.