Stroke survivors experiencing depression or anxiety are significantly more likely to recover from their symptoms if they receive psychological therapy, according to a study by researchers at University College London, a highly-ranked public research university.
The study holds significance for India which has an estimated 1.8 million people affected annually with the condition. It is the third leading cause of death and sixth leading cause of disability in the country. High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, smoking, and unhealthy lifestyles are major contributors to stroke risk in India
Published in Nature Mental Health, the study is the first of its kind to analyze real-world data from 1.9 million patients treated through NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression services between 2012 and 2019, including 7,597 stroke survivors.
Researchers found that 71% of stroke survivors experienced a reliable improvement in their psychological symptoms, and nearly half (49%) achieved reliable recovery following treatment — a success rate that matches national targets for the general population.
“Our findings strongly support existing evidence that talking therapies are effective for treating post-stroke depression and anxiety,” said Dr Jae Won Suh, lead author from UCL Psychology & Language Sciences. “Importantly, we found that stroke survivors benefit most when therapy is accessed as early as possible.”
The research highlights the urgent need for early mental health intervention in stroke recovery, as outcomes were significantly better when therapy was started within six months of a stroke. Those who waited a year or more to begin treatment were less likely to recover, regardless of age, gender, or location.
Without treatment, depression and anxiety can hinder both physical and cognitive recovery after stroke, and previous studies have shown it can increase the risk of death by 20–50%.
Despite the positive findings, the study also revealed that stroke survivors still fare worse in therapy than patients without a history of stroke. However, these differences disappeared once researchers accounted for other long-term physical health conditions.
“This suggests a need to adapt existing psychological therapies for people with complex physical and cognitive challenges,” said Professor Joshua Stott, senior author from UCL. “Providing clinicians with additional training to support patients with long-term conditions like stroke could significantly improve outcomes.”
The researchers are now calling for greater investment in mental health training and earlier intervention pathways to help stroke survivors receive the support they need when it matters most.
The study was funded by the Alzheimer’s Society.
