ACP Journal Club. Review: SSRIs somewhat improve dependence and disability after stroke.

Review scope Included studies compared any SSRI (e.g., fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, or paroxetine), at any dose and for any duration or reason, with placebo or usual care in stroke survivors within 12 months of stroke or a reported mean time < 12 months since stroke (sudden-onset focal neurologic disturbance, assumed to be vascular in origin, and lasting > 24 h), and reported ≥ 1 outcome of interest. Study drugs with mixed pharmacologic effects that include SSRI actions were excluded. Primary outcomes were dependence and disability. Secondary outcomes included death, gastrointestinal effects, neurologic deficit, and depression.