• Shirley A Thomas, Marion F Walker, Jamie A Macniven, Helen Haworth, and Nadina B Lincoln.
• University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG8 1BB, UK. Shirley.thomas@nottingham.ac.uk
• Clin Rehabil. 2013 May 1;27(5):398-408.

ObjectiveThe aim was to evaluate behavioural therapy as a treatment for low mood in people with aphasia.DesignA randomized controlled trial comparing behavioural therapy plus usual care with a usual care control. Potential participants with aphasia after stroke were screened for the presence of low mood. Those who met the criteria and gave consent were randomly allocated.SettingParticipants were recruited from hospital wards, community rehabilitation, speech and language therapy services and stroke groups.SubjectsOf 511 people with aphasia identified, 105 had low mood and were recruited.InterventionsBehavioural therapy was offered for up to three months. Outcomes were assessed three and six months after random allocation.Main MeasuresStroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire, Visual Analog Mood Scales 'sad' item, and Visual Analogue Self-Esteem Scale.ResultsParticipants were aged 29 to 94 years (mean 67.0, SD 13.5) and 66 (63%) were men. Regression analysis showed that at three months, when baseline values and communication impairment were controlled for, group allocation was a significant predictor of the Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire (P < 0.05), visual analogue 'sad' (P = 0.03), and Visual Analogue Self-Esteem Scale (P < 0.01). At six months, group alone was a significant predictor of the Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire (P < 0.05), and remained significant when baseline values were controlled for (P = 0.02). Mean Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire 10-item hospital version scores decreased from baseline to six months by six points in the intervention group as compared with an increase of 1.9 points in the control group.ConclusionsBehavioural therapy seemed to improve the mood of people with aphasia.

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