RESULTS: A total of 1320 patients who met inclusion criteria were identified from 16 RCTs. The pooled response rates in the active and placebo groups were 65.18% (234/359) and 44.37% (138/311), respectively. The pooled RD was 0.23 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.43), indicating a significantly higher response rate in the active group compared with the placebo group. From baseline to endpoint, patients in the active group had significantly greater improvement in depressive symptoms compared with patients in the placebo group. Longer duration of treatment was positively correlated with the degree of improvement in depressive symptoms (Spearman's correlation, [ρ] = −0.93, p = 0.001). No consistent evidence was found for positive antidepressant effects on the recovery of neurologic impairments and improvements in ADLs.