Soyo-san combination trials suggest depression improvement after stroke, with weak evidence
Adding an herbal preparation to antidepressants was linked to lower depression scores, but the reviewers found weak certainty and inconsistent results.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The pooled trials reported lower depression scores with Soyo-san combined with antidepressants, alongside improvements in some recovery measures. However, the reviewers rated the evidence as low to very low certainty. That leaves substantial uncertainty about the apparent benefits and does not establish the combination as a reliable treatment option for depression after stroke.
The abstract reports substantial inconsistency in depression-score results and low to very low evidence certainty. It does not describe treatment duration or provide numerical adverse-event comparisons.
What researchers found
Hamilton Depression Scale score
Combination treatment versus trial controls; assessment timing not reported. The mean difference indicates lower depression scores with the combination.
What improved
The main quantitative result concerns a depression rating scale. The abstract also reports improvements in motor, cognitive, and sleep difficulties after stroke, but gives no effect sizes for those recovery outcomes.
Safety remains uncertain
Adverse events occurred in both treatment and control groups and were reported less often in the combination group. Without event counts, severity details, or clearer certainty assessments, that finding cannot establish the treatment's safety.
The original publication
Effects of modified Soyo-san (Xiao-yao-san, Shoyo-san) combined with antidepressants on post-stroke depression and functional recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Bak J, Jin H, Yun JM et al.
Front Pharmacol · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41552819
- Record checked
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