What question did this study set out to answer?

To investigate the prevalence and time-course of depression following transient ischaemic attack and identify its predictors.

March 6, 2026

Prevalence, time-course and predictors of depression after transient ischaemic attack: a systematic review, meta-analysis and validation.

Key Result

Depression affects about 20% of patients early after TIA, with prevalence decreasing over time, highlighting possible event-triggered depression.

Key Points

To investigate the prevalence and time-course of depression following transient ischaemic attack and identify its predictors.
Conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing studies
Analyzed the prevalence of depression at different time points after TIA
Assessed the impact of study design on prevalence rates
Found that approximately 20% of patients experience depression shortly after TIA
Observed a decline in depression prevalence over time
Identified a need for additional research to clarify risk factors associated with depression after TIA

Structured PICO

Population

Patients after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

Outcome

Prevalence, time-course, and predictors of depression

Depression is common early after a TIA, affecting approximately 20% of patients, though its prevalence decreases over time.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

Depression affects about 1-in-5 patients early after a TIA but prevalence falls with time, suggesting that it may be triggered by the event in some cases, but further work is required to identify risk factors. Additionally, when planning future research, investigators must remain cognisant of the significant influence that study design has on the observed prevalence rates.

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