Study designs of evaluations included in the review
'Clinical studies' with sample sizes of 20 or more. These were not further defined in terms of methodological features.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies of the DST for depression were eligible for inclusion.
Reference standard test against which the new test was compared
The reference assessments included the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Modified Present state Exam, Zung Scale for Rating Depressive Symptoms, mood symptom adjective checklists (DAC/VAC) and clinical assessment.
Participants included in the review
No inclusion criteria relating to the participants were specified. Stroke patients seen as in-patients, out-patients and during rehabilitation were included.
Outcomes assessed in the review
No inclusion criteria relating to the outcomes were specified. The outcomes reported in the review were the sensitivity and specificity of the DST and the prevalence of depression
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.